Israel agreed to pause military operations against Hamas in northern Gaza for four hours each day to allow for humanitarian activities, the White House said Thursday, according to The Associated Press.
President Joe Biden has pressured Israel to implement multi-day ceasefires in a bid to secure negotiations over hostage releases and facilitate the flow of needed supplies to Gaza civilians, the AP reported. Israel’s military shot down any possibility of a ceasefire on Thursday in a statement, and Biden himself acknowledged “no possibility” for any longer cessation in hostilities despite personal efforts to sway Israel’s leader.
Biden said it had “taken a little longer” than he hoped to convince the Israelis to agree to short humanitarian pauses, the AP reported. He confirmed asking Israel for a three-day pause, adding, “I’ve asked for even a longer pause for some of them.”
On a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday, Biden pressed for the daily pauses and tried to convince Netanyahu of the importance of longer cessations in hostilities, the AP reported. The call followed a renewed push for negotiations with the Hamas terrorist organization over hostage releases.
The Israelis have informed the Biden administration of the planned pauses, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Thursday, CNN reported.
“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.
The first humanitarian pause will be announced Thursday, and each one will be announced at least three hours in advance, Kirby explained, according to the AP.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) paused fighting in Gaza several times in recent days to create a safe path for civilians to flee contested areas of northern Gaza, the AP reported. However, Thursday’s announcement appeared as an attempt to formalize the process as Biden pressures Israel to take greater care concerning civilian safety.
“Our war is with Hamas and not with the people of Gaza,” the IDF said in a social media statement earlier on Thursday. Videos of apparent Gaza civilians walking down a humanitarian causeway accompanied the statement.
Israel is opening a second corridor allowing civilians to evacuate parts of the city making up the IDF’s next objectives with a coastal road between the territory’s main highway running from north to south, the AP reported.
Earlier Thursday, the IDF announced it had captured a major Hamas stronghold known as Outpost 17 after ten hours of fighting across the ground and in Hamas’ vast underground tunnel network, according to The Times of Israel.
All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
