Israel plans to start four-hour pauses of military operations in northern Gaza each day, according to the White House.
White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby announced that the pauses were scheduled to begin on Thursday.
Israel to begin '4-hour pauses' of military operations in northern Gaza, the White House says https://t.co/QzRtMHHjM4
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 10, 2023
"We understand that Israel will begin to implement 4-hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza each day, with an announcement to be made 3 hours beforehand," Kirby said Thursday, according to Fox News.
"We have 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," he said.
US President Joe Biden asked for a longer pause in Gaza to get the hostages out while Israel begins a daily four-hour pause in the northern Gaza Strip to enable Palestinians to flee hostilities in the coastal enclave https://t.co/xE8o4dKdC9 pic.twitter.com/ggRzJ9wn3W
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 10, 2023
"The pauses would allow people to get out of harm's way and for deliveries of humanitarian aid and could be used as a way to get hostages out of Gaza," Reuters reported.
"Palestinian Hamas gunmen killed 1,400 people and took 240 hostage during an Oct. 7 incursion into Israel, Israel has said. Israel has responded with an air bombardment and ground invasion seeking to oust the Islamist group from Gaza," it noted.
Israel waited three weeks before conducting ground invasions in Gaza, warning residents to flee the area well in advance.
Some reports, however, show that Hamas has stopped or slowed those seeking to flee. The terror group has also reportedly used schools and hospitals for safety, including the use of human shields.
Hamas also has over 240 hostages that remain a focus for Israel, with the nation claiming that no cease-fire will be granted without all hostages released.
The pauses may be of some help but the battle continues in Gaza as Israel seeks to put a stop to the work of Hamas.
