Tactic Pause Makes Netanyahu Angry, Israeli Military Confirms Still Fighting Against Hamas

Israeli military spokesman (IDF) Rear Admiral Daniel Badminton/screenshot Instagram @idf

JAKARTA - Israeli military spokesman (IDF) Rear Admiral Daniel Yahwi acknowledged Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) should be able to be more clear in explaining their announcement of a tractural bridge' in military activity along routes in southern Gaza to allow aid distribution.

"Sometimes when you say tactical pauses, people may think that we are stopping fighting in Gaza," mitigating CNN, Monday, June 17.

"We should have clarified better that we are at war in Gaza, that we are at war in Rafah and we created this safe path, at that time, to ensure distribution (assistance) continues."

ungi mengatakan militer tidak berhenti berwarung melawan Hamas dan keputusan itu dibuat oleh militer, bukan pemerintah Israel.

"We are a democratic country, and we were ordered by our cabinet and political echelons, the Ministry of Defense, and that's how the IDF works," he explained in response to Hancocks' question. Our order is to ensure humanitarian aid enters Gaza. Israel works in accordance with international law. We will continue to do this, this is what the cabinet ordered us.

On Sunday, June 16, the Government Media Office (GMO) in Gaza denied the thitual applicable in the southern Gaza Strip.

"Talking about a tactical cessation of war is a lie to Israel," GMO said in a statement.

"We are still demanding the opening of the Rafah crossing to meet the needs of the community, especially in the northern Gaza Strip," he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the plan announced by the military to hold a daily tactical break in fighting along one of the main roads to Gaza to facilitate aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave.

The military announced a daily break from 05.00 to 16.00 local time in the area from the Kerem SALom crossing to Jalan Salah al-Din and then north.

"When the prime minister heard reports of a 11-hour humanitarian hiatus in the morning, he turned to his military secretary and explained that this was unacceptable to him," an Israeli official said.

The military has clarified that normal operations will continue in Rafah, the main focus of its operations in southern Gaza, where eight soldiers died on Saturday, June 15.

Netanyahu's reaction underscores political tensions over aid issues entering Gaza, where international organizations have warned of an escalating humanitarian crisis.