Israel will begin four-hour pauses in northern Gaza to allow people to flee, the White House said in what it called a step in the right direction, Reuters reports.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the pauses emerged out of discussions between US and Israeli officials in recent days, including talks US President Joe Biden had with 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 announce ment to come three hours in advance,” he said. Meanwhile, street battles raged in Gaza City with Hamas fighters using tunnels to ambush Israeli forces, as the United States said Palestinians must govern Gaza post-war, countering Israeli comments that it would control security indefinitely.
Palestinian officials said 10,569 people had been killed as of Wednesday, 40% of them children. Israel says 33 of its soldiers have been killed, although the number is likely to be higher.
The Israeli military claimed its troops had advanced into the ‘heart of Gaza City’, Hamas’ main bastion and the biggest city in the seaside enclave, while the resistance group said its fighters had inflicted heavy losses on invading forces.
The Palestinian health ministry said on Thursday nine Palestinians were killed and at least 15 others were injured by Israeli forces in a raid on Jenin city and refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
