War in the Middle East
Israel agrees to regular ceasefires in Gaza
National Security Council Communications Director: John Kirby. photo
© Evan Vucci/AP/dpa
The White House announces that Israel will pause fighting in the northern Gaza Strip for four hours each day.
According to the White House, Israel has daily four-hour humanitarian breaks in the fighting in the north Gaza Strip agreed. These breaks would be announced three hours in advance, said National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby.
“Israel is committed to fully complying with international law, and we believe these pauses are a step in the right direction,” Kirby continued. This applies in particular to ensuring that the civilian population has the opportunity to move to safer areas away from active fighting.
US President Joe Biden has campaigned for these breaks, it said. During these breaks it will be possible to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. They could also provide a “sufficient window of time to help people get out of harm’s way,” Kirby emphasized. They are also a way to get hostages safely out of the Gaza Strip. However, the White House did not provide further details. The first break should be announced by the Israelis this Thursday.
The USA currently rejects a general ceasefire
The US government has been seeking possible temporary ceasefires in the Gaza war for some time. Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu only discussed the issue on Monday. The two discussed the possibility of “tactical pauses” to allow civilians to leave combat areas, to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of the Gaza Strip and to enable the release of additional hostages, the White House said. The US government, however, is currently rejecting a general ceasefire, arguing that this would only play into the hands of Hamas and give the group time to reposition itself for further attacks.
It had previously become known that negotiations were underway to free around a dozen prisoners through the mediation of the Gulf Emirate of Qatar, which maintains good relations with the Palestinian organization, and in consultation with the USA. A person with knowledge of these discussions confirmed this to the German Press Agency. In return, fighting should stop for 48 to 72 hours as part of a humanitarian pause. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously mentioned the release of the hostages in the Gaza Strip as a condition for a ceasefire.