A vehicle (behind) of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) escorts Palestinian health ministry ambulances transporting injured people to the Rafah crossing with Egypt, from Bureij in the central Gaza Strip on Nov. 9, 2023, amid ongoing Israeli bombardment of the besieged strip. (Credit: Mohammed Abed/AFP)
WASHINGTON — Israel will begin four-hour pauses in northern Gaza starting today, to allow people to flee hostilities, the White House said in what it called a step in the right direction.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the pauses emerged out of discussions between U.S and Israeli officials in recent days, including talks between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Kirby said 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.
"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 said.
"We understand that Israel will begin to implement four-hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza" with an announcement to come three hours in advance," he said.
"We think these are significant first steps here and obviously we want to see them continued for as long as they are needed," he added.
Kirby also said a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas militants is not in order because it would help Hamas and "legitimize what they did on Oct. 7 and we simply are not going to stand for that at this time."
four-hour pauses in northern Gaza starting today, to allow
people to flee hostilities, the White House said in what it
called a step in the right direction.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said
the pauses emerged out of discussions between U.S and Israeli
officials in recent days, including talks between US...