The Israeli military announced on Sunday a pause in military activity in three designated areas of Gaza, shortly after it said it was taking several steps to ease the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
The pause will take place daily in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, from 10 a.m. (0700 GMT) to 8 p.m. (1700 GMT) until further notice, the military said.
Designated secure routes will also be in place permanently from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m., it added.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed recent military decisions to implement humanitarian pauses in Gaza, calling them “major steps” to improve aid delivery and protect civilian lives.
“I welcome the major steps announced by the Israeli leadership and military to strengthen and upgrade the humanitarian response in Gaza — particularly the decision to implement humanitarian pauses,” Herzog said in a statement posted on X.
I welcome the major steps announced by the Israeli leadership and military to strengthen and upgrade the humanitarian response in Gaza — particularly the decision to implement humanitarian pauses to protect civilian lives and allow the safe delivery of aid.
In coordination with…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) July 26, 2025
Read: UNRWA belittles Gaza aid airdrops proposal
Gaza ceasefire
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas could be finalized “any day now,” citing steady progress in ongoing negotiations led by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Al Jazeera reports.
“They’ve made a lot of progress, and they’re close,” Rubio told Fox News, adding that Witkoff has been working “day and night for weeks.”
Rubio said the proposed deal would include the release of at least half the hostages, including the deceased, with the remaining captives expected to be freed at the end of a 60-day period.
“All Americans are out now. We care about all the hostages,” he said, referring to those still held in Gaza.
“There’s a very simple solution to what’s happening in Gaza. Release all the hostages, lay down your arms, and the war ends for Hamas,” he added.
