The White House announced on Thursday that Israel has accepted daily four-hour ceasefires in northern Gaza to allow the safe evacuation of civilians, despite President Joe Biden expressing skepticism about a complete cessation of hostilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing pressure from President Biden to increase the duration of fighting halts, following over a month of conflict initiated by the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
The northern part of the Gaza Strip, particularly Gaza City, is witnessing intense and close-quarters fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, as reported by AFP.
‘Israel will begin to implement four-hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza each day, with an announcement to be made three hours beforehand,’ National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
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‘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.’
Since Hamas gunmen breached the Gaza-Israel border, a continuous state of conflict has prevailed. Israeli officials cite 1,400 casualties and the capture of around 240 hostages, characterizing it as the most devastating attack in the nation’s history.
Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel responded with both aerial bombing and a ground offensive. The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip states that over 10,500 people, including a significant number of children, have been killed.
Increasing international demands for a ceasefire coincide with protests, including one at the White House over the weekend. President Biden, however, has ruled out the possibility of a longer truce at this point.
‘None. No possibility,’ Biden told reporters as he left the White House for a trip to Illinois when asked about the chances of a ceasefire.
He later confirmed that in a call with Netanayhu that ‘I’ve asked for a pause longer than three days’.
When asked if he was frustrated with Netanyahu, he said, ‘it’s taken a little longer than I hoped.’
According to AFP, President Biden did not bring up the four-hour pauses outlined in the recent White House announcement.
The United States has consistently supported its crucial ally Israel in the aftermath of the attacks, emphasizing the stance that Hamas should not retain control over Gaza.
While making public appeals for the Israeli military to respect the “laws of war,” Washington is simultaneously exerting private pressure to de-escalate the offensive and formulate a post-operation strategy.
Israel has continued its advance, surrounding northern Gaza in the past few days. On Thursday, it reported a 10-hour battle resulting in the capture of a key Palestinian militant stronghold.
A sharp surge in numbers occurred on Wednesday, as the army stated that 50,000 people fled their homes in the main battle zone of northern Gaza. This adds to the over 1.5 million individuals already seeking safety in the south of the coastal strip.