Middle East crisis live: malnutrition in Gaza on ‘dangerous trajectory’, says WHO, as airdrops of aid begin – as it happened

The Israeli military said it had beun a “tactical pause” in the densely populated areas of Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi to “increase the scale of humanitarian aid” into the Gaza strip.

The pause would be repeated every day from 10am to 8pm local time until further notice and Israel would continue fighting in other areas of Gaza.

Jordan and the UAE have reportedly carried out air drops into Gaza but Oxfam said the amount of food being allowed to trickle into the devastated territory is totally inadequate for the population’s need. Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam policy lead for the Occupied Palestinian territory, said: “What’s needed is the immediate opening of all crossings for full, unhindered, and safe aid delivery across all of Gaza and a permanent ceasefire. Anything less risks being little more than a tactical gesture.”

• Malnutrition is on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, marked by a spike in deaths in July, the World Health Organization said. Of 74 malnutrition-related deaths in 2025, 63 occurred in July –including 24 children under five, a child over five, and 38 adults, the organisation said.
• British foreign secretary David Lammy said Israel’s decision to pause military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and allow new aid corridors falls short of what is needed to alleviate suffering in the territory. Lammy said in a statement that Israel’s announcement was “essential but long overdue”, and that access to aid must now be urgently accelerated over the coming hours and days.