The walkout, scheduled from Monday to Friday, would have been the 16th strike by resident doctors since 2023 in a dispute over what the British Medical Association (BMA) described as years of pay erosion and pressure on the National Health Service.

The BMA said it would hold a referendum on the government proposal and pause industrial action while members consider the offer.

“We have always been clear that no strikes needed to go ahead if we received an offer appropriate to put to our members,” BMA committee chair Jack Fletcher said.

The union represents about 55,000 of England’s approximately 75,000 resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors.

The proposed deal includes a 3.5 percent pay increase this year, in line with recommendations from an independent review body. The Department of Health said resident doctors would receive an average increase of about 4.9 percent under the wider package.

The BMA said the package could raise average pay growth to 6.6 percent by April 2027, with further increases expected later.

Health Minister James Murray said the agreement could help end years of industrial disputes and improve stability in the health service.

Resident doctors have received total pay increases of 33.4 percent over four years, including this year’s rise, although the BMA has argued that inflation-adjusted pay remains below 2008 levels.

The offer also includes 4,500 additional training places over three years, measures to address employment pressures among medical trainees, annual progression for part-time doctors and improved additional payments for medical academics.

Nearly 600 children with suspected or confirmed measles have died since March, while hospitals across the country are struggling to cope with hundreds of new admissions each day. Medical facilities remain under severe pressure as doctors attempt to isolate infected patients and prevent further transmission.

Health experts fear large-scale population movement during the Eid holidays could accelerate the spread of the highly contagious disease, particularly in rural areas with limited access to healthcare services.

The outbreak has overwhelmed pediatric wards in several hospitals, prompting renewed calls for expanded vaccination efforts and stronger public health measures to contain the crisis.

Medical personnel and humanitarian organizations say Israeli attacks have increasingly hit hospitals, ambulances and emergency responders during the ongoing campaign against Hezbollah, which Israel accuses of operating from civilian areas.

Hezbollah denies using medical facilities for military purposes.According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 54 health professionals have been killed since hostilities escalated on March 2. The ministry also reported 152 attacks on ambulances and emergency teams, as well as the closure of six hospitals and 49 health clinics due to damage or security threats.

In the southern port city of Sidon, hospitals are facing mounting pressure as casualties rise. Doctors say the influx of wounded has strained a system already weakened by years of economic crisis and limited resources. Power outages and shortages of medical supplies have further complicated treatment efforts.

Dr. Mohammed Ziara, a burn surgeon from Gaza now working in Sidon with the UK-based nonprofit Interburns, said the situation resembled what he experienced during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. He said frontline hospitals are overwhelmed and struggling to cope with the volume of injuries.

The Sidon Government Hospital, where a specialized burn unit has been established, is receiving patients from across southern Lebanon, particularly from areas near the evacuation zone. Medical teams say capacity constraints often require discharging patients to accommodate new arrivals.

The World Health Organization said Israeli strikes on March 28 killed multiple paramedics responding to earlier attacks, highlighting the risks faced by emergency responders. The Israeli military has said some targeted individuals were affiliated with Hezbollah, though it has not provided public evidence.

Human rights organizations say such incidents echo earlier patterns observed in Gaza, where the United Nations reported high casualties among health workers and journalists during Israeli operations.

Analysts warn that repeated strikes on medical infrastructure could further degrade Lebanon’s already fragile health system.Civilians and medical staff say evacuation orders and ongoing bombardment have displaced more than one million people, forcing patients and hospitals to relocate under difficult conditions.

Transfers often require coordination among multiple authorities, leading to delays that doctors say can be life-threatening.Lebanese officials and residents have also raised concerns about the unpredictability of strikes.

Some civilians say attacks have hit residential areas without warning, complicating efforts to identify safe zones.Israel maintains that its operations target Hezbollah infrastructure and that the group’s presence in civilian regions complicates military action.

The escalation follows Hezbollah’s entry into the regional conflict alongside Iran, prompting expanded Israeli operations in southern Lebanon.