White House announces daily 4-hour Gaza ceasefire by Israel.
Israel pledges to provide a minimum three-hour notice for each ceasefire window, as per the White House statement.
White House Initiates Humanitarian Pause Agreement in Gaza Conflict
The White House announced on Thursday that Israel has agreed to implement daily four-hour pauses in military operations in certain areas of Northern Gaza. This move signifies a formalized effort to halt violence periodically, allowing for the delivery of humanitarian aid and enabling civilians to escape the ongoing conflict.
In recent days, Israel has temporarily ceased hostilities for several-hour intervals, permitting civilians to evacuate towards the southern regions of Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that there would be no comprehensive ceasefire without the release of hostages held by Hamas.
John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, described this agreement to implement four-hour pauses as an initial positive step in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He also stated that Israel would provide a three-hour advance notice of the timing of these pauses.
Kirby noted, “The Israelis have communicated that military operations will be suspended in these specified areas as the pause commences today.” He emphasized that this was a move in the right direction.
President Joe Biden, speaking shortly after the announcement, mentioned that he had urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to agree to longer pauses in the violence, which includes a phone call they had on Monday.
“I’ve been advocating for a pause for more than just three days,” Biden told reporters, expressing his desire for even more extended pauses.
When asked if he was frustrated with the delays in securing humanitarian pauses, Biden hinted at some discord, saying, “It’s taken a little longer than I hoped.”
Kirby highlighted that Israel’s decision to allow four-hour pauses was the result of extensive engagement by the administration to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance and the movement of people out of the conflict areas. He also stressed that these pauses would create “brief windows of opportunity” for the safe passage of hostages held by Hamas.
Kirby emphasized, “We have consistently urged the Israelis to take every possible measure to minimize harm to civilians and reduce the number of casualties. These pauses will provide precious hours of safety for civilians to distance themselves from danger.”
Israel has been urging civilians in the northern Gaza region to relocate to the south as it targets areas in the north. However, this task has proven to be challenging, if not impossible, for many Palestinians in the enclave. Large-scale civilian departures from Gaza have been limited since the beginning of the conflict, with only groups of foreign nationals and some injured Palestinians being allowed to leave the enclave recently.
A senior Israeli official disclosed that these four-hour pauses are referred to as “tactical localized pauses” and will be implemented in specific areas daily. Residents in a particular neighborhood or area will receive several hours’ notice of the pause to enable people in the north to travel south for aid and relief.
The official further argued that the sight of people leaving northern Gaza in recent days to head south suggests that Hamas may be losing its grip on the region.
Regarding when these pauses will commence, the official indicated that they would begin “very soon.”
Kirby also conveyed that the United States would like to see these daily pauses continue for as long as humanitarian assistance in Gaza remains necessary. This development represents a significant effort to address the ongoing conflict in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and protect the well-being of civilians caught in the crossfire.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
