Israel Agrees To Daily 4-Hour Gaza Ceasefire For Humanitarian Access: White House

Israel has agreed to implement a daily four-hour ceasefire in military operations in northern Gaza starting Thursday, according to the White House.

These brief respites are intended to permit civilians to access two humanitarian corridors and potentially facilitate the release of hostages, representing an important initial move, noted White House national security spokesperson John Kirby.

There is no ceasefire. There are tactical, local pauses for humanitarian aid for Gazan civilians. These tactical pauses are limited in time and area. We are also providing humanitarian corridors for civilians in Gaza to temporarily move south to safer areas where they can receive… pic.twitter.com/qwNoYYf0QV
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 9, 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden subsequently expressed his desire for more extended pauses in Gaza to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas Islamist militants, though he acknowledged it has taken more time than he anticipated.

However, no formal agreement has been reached between Hamas and Israel thus far, as per Taher Al-Nono, a political adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The Israeli military has specified that these pauses are not indicative of a comprehensive ceasefire but instead tactical, localized halts designed to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

There have been no immediate reports of a cessation in fighting amidst the ongoing conflict among the war-ravaged structures in the northern Gaza Strip.

Israel initiated its military campaign in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the death of approximately 1,400 individuals, mostly civilians, and the abduction of around 240 hostages, according to Israeli reports.

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