The statement issued late Saturday came after increasing accounts of starvation-related deaths in Gaza following months of experts’ warnings of famine.

The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday it would begin a scheduled "tactical" pause of its military activities in three areas in Gaza, as it opens aid corridors to allow food and medicine into the enclave.

The Israeli military has begun implementing daily tactical pauses in combat operations across parts of the Gaza Strip to support the delivery of humanitarian aid. The pause, running from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, applies to areas where ground forces are not currently deployed, including al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City.