Almost three months have passed since a conflict between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel began, and more than 20,000 Palestinians ¡ª of whom about 70% are women and children ¡ª have been killed in Israel¡¯s counterattack operations against Hamas.

Relief supplies were delivered to the Gaza Strip during a seven-day ¡°humanitarian pause¡± from Nov. 24. On Dec. 1, the Israeli offensive in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, started.

What happened in the lead-up to the humanitarian pause, and how did it differ from a cease-fire?