Israel will not attack Gaza for 4 hours daily, will provide help to civilians

Washington (Uttam Hindu News): Israel will begin a 4-hour daily ceasefire in military operations in selected areas of northern Gaza, where its forces are fiercely fighting Hamas, to allow humanitarian aid from the UN and other agencies to be sent to the enclave. . The White House made this announcement. Media reports quoting White House officials said the purpose of the pause is to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to the besieged area and to allow civilians to flee the war zone.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Israel would announce the time of the ceasefire three hours in advance. Describing it as “a step in the right direction,” Kirby said, “The Israelis have told us that there will be no military operations in these areas during the period of the moratorium, and that process begins today. Israel’s significant decision to allow a four-hour stoppage came after much effort by the administration to ensure that humanitarian aid could get in and people could leave safely. Kirby said the ceasefire would allow for the safe evacuation of hostages held by Hamas.

The Israeli decision for a daily humanitarian pause in the besieged area was described as an “important” first step after intense discussions between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Follow-up discussions also took place at the top levels of the bureaucratic hierarchy in both governments, media reports said. “We are urging the Israelis to minimize civilian casualties and make every possible effort to reduce those numbers,” Kirby said, CNN reported. He said they would provide “breathing space for a few hours” to get citizens out of harm’s way.

Israel has repeatedly warned civilians to move into southern Gaza as it attacks targets in the north, but even southern Gaza is not a safe zone for them and there is a severe shortage of essential goods for daily life. . Civilians have been unable to leave Gaza in large numbers since the war began. Reports said groups of foreign nationals and some injured Palestinians had recently been allowed out of the enclave. The United States would like to see the daily blockade continue as long as humanitarian assistance to Gaza remains at the required level.

President Joe Biden told reporters he had been advocating for a humanitarian pause for more than three days. Asked whether Netanyahu was pressured to pause military operations for three days, he said, “I have been demanding a pause for more than three days.” Yes. “I have requested an even longer stay for some of them,” Biden said. Asked if he was disappointed with Netanyahu and whether the Israeli prime minister listened to what the president asked for, he played down the concerns, saying “it took a little longer than I expected,” CNN reported. Is”.