Israel has agreed to implement daily four-hour military pauses in northern Gaza for humanitarian purposes, according to the White House.
President Joe Biden, while emphasizing there’s no chance of a full ceasefire, has been urging longer breaks in the fighting.
The pauses are seen as significant steps forward and will allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians from the conflict zones.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that Israel will begin these four-hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza each day, with an announcement made three hours beforehand.
“We’ve been told by the Israelis that there will be no military operations in these areas over the duration of the pause (and) that this process is starting today,” Kirby told reporters.
The pauses aim to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and provide an opportunity for civilians to flee the ongoing conflict.
Despite the temporary halts, the overall situation in Gaza remains dire, with heavy fighting reported in Gaza City in the northern part of the strip.
The conflict, sparked by the October 7 attacks by Hamas, has resulted in a significant loss of lives and extensive damage in the region.
International calls for a ceasefire have grown louder, accompanied by protests, including one targeting the White House. President Biden, however, ruled out the possibility of a longer truce for now, stating, “None. No possibility.”
He remains optimistic about securing the release of hostages, including fewer than 10 US citizens held in Gaza.
The United States, while firmly supporting Israel, has been publicly urging adherence to the “laws of war” and avoidance of civilian casualties. Privately, there have been calls for Israel to scale back its offensive and develop a plan for the post-conflict scenario.
The ongoing conflict has raised tensions, with Biden warning Iran and Hezbollah against widening the conflict.
Amid these developments, the US carried out fresh strikes on an Iran-linked weapons facility in eastern Syria, with Biden explaining the actions as a response to attacks on US forces by Tehran’s proxies.
He stated, “because they struck us,” indicating a readiness to retaliate if necessary.
