Israel declares Gaza City a 'combat zone' and suspends humanitarian aid pauses
It is the latest after Israel's security cabinet approved a plan for the military to occupy the city, mobilising tens of thousands of troops in order to do so.
Friday 29 August 2025 11:27, UK
Israel has said it is suspending pauses to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza City, calling it a "dangerous combat zone".
The city was among locations where the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) paused fighting last month to allow for food and aid supplies to enter between 10am and 8pm.
The "tactical pauses" covered Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi - where hundreds of thousands of displaced people have been sheltering.
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In a statement, the IDF said it was "not waiting" and was already operating "with great force" on the outskirts of Gaza City.
It did not say whether it had notified residents or aid groups about the plans to resume daytime hostilities.
It comes as Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan for the military to occupy the city, mobilising tens of thousands of reserve troops in order to do so.
It claims Gaza City is a Hamas stronghold, with a tunnel network that remains in use by militants, and is most likely the area where the remaining Israeli hostages are being held.
The city also is home to some of the territory's critical infrastructure and health facilities.
The United Nations has said the offensive will have a "horrific humanitarian impact", adding on Thursday the besieged strip could lose half of its hospital bed capacity if Israel invades as planned.
Last week, famine was declared in Gaza.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) - a globally recognised system for classifying the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition - said hunger, starvation and child malnutrition had surpassed thresholds.
Campaign to return hostages 'continues unabated'
The families of Israeli hostages have warned that a military occupation of Gaza City puts the captives' lives at risk.
But on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the body of Israeli hostage, Ilan Weiss, had been recovered and returned to Israel.
He said the operation also returned the remains of another hostage whose name was not immediately released.
Mr Netanyahu said Mr Weiss was murdered by Hamas during the 7 October 2023 attacks and his body was kidnapped. His wife and daughter were also kidnapped and released from captivity in November 2023.
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Tap to follow"I thank our commanders and fighters for a successful operation, for their determination and courage," the Israeli prime minister said.
"The campaign to return the kidnapped continues unabated, we will not rest or be silent until we return all of our kidnapped people home - both the living and the dead."
Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas-led militants, roughly 50 remain in Gaza, including 20 that Israel believes to be alive.