Israel commits to daily 4 hour humanitarian pauses in Northern Gaza

New Delhi, Nov 9: Israel has agreed to implement daily four-hour "humanitarian pauses" in the fighting in northern Gaza. The White House and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby officially confirmed this decision, which is set to commence on Thursday.

Starting from Thursday, there will be a halt to military operations in the fighting zones within the Northern Gaza Strip. John Kirby, during a press conference, revealed that these pauses will be announced three hours in advance by the Israeli Defence Forces, ensuring that civilians have sufficient time to relocate to safer areas.

This decision comes amidst reports of negotiations between the U.S., Israel, and Qatar for a three-day ceasefire. Calls for a ceasefire have been growing louder, but Israel and the U.S. have expressed concerns that a ceasefire might provide an opportunity for militant groups like Hamas to regroup and reorganize.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent visits to Israel and meetings with Arab Countries leaders, including Palestinian and Israeli leaders, have emphasized the need for a humanitarian pause in the ongoing conflict.

Many nations have also joined the call for a ceasefire to bring a longer-term cessation of hostilities and create opportunities for dialogue and a potential permanent political settlement.
Humanitarian pauses provide short-term relief for civilians, and ceasefires aim for more comprehensive and extended periods of calm, offering parties involved in the conflict a chance to regroup and negotiate towards a more permanent solution.

Some Arab countries, such as Jordan and Egypt, Qatar have strongly pushed for ceasefires, highlighting the differing perspectives on how to best address the conflict's complexities.

John Kirby, in response to Israel's decision, referred to these four-hour humanitarian pauses as a "significant first step" and emphasized the desire to continue them for as long as necessary.

The situation in Gaza remains fluid, and global attention remains focused on the efforts to bring lasting peace to the region where more than twelve million people have been displaced and more than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed. Shortage of food, water, medicines and fuel continues in Gaza.