Israel will allow four-hour humanitarian pauses in its attack on the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to the White House.
On Thursday, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will suspend military operations during the four hours, and the timing will be announced three hours before the pause begins each day.
Israel Will Allow Daily Humanitarian Pauses While It Attacks Hamas https://t.co/qx3dUdnFPs pic.twitter.com/AUN5R8hZmS
— Daily Wire News (@DailyWireNews) November 9, 2023
“The fighting continues and there will be no ceasefire without the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. “Israel is allowing safe passage through humanitarian corridors from the northern Gaza Strip to the south, which 50,000 Gazans utilized just yesterday. We once again call on the civilian population of Gaza to evacuate to the south.”
Kirby called Israel’s actions “good steps in the right direction” in terms of upholding international law and guaranteeing civilian safety. He also issued a warning, saying that Hamas might attempt to discourage or stop civilians from leaving.
This comes after the Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel and invaded towns along the Gaza border earlier last month, killing at least 700 people. According to IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, the death toll so far has risen to 1,200 since the conflict between the two parties erupted.
The attack has since prompted Israel to declare war against the terrorist group with a ruthless aerial campaign that has flattened homes, schools, medical institutions, and government buildings in the Gaza Strip.
“This battle has meaning beyond the symbolic aspect. We need to ensure that all terrorist infrastructure in Beit Hanoun is destroyed. We will not stop, we will continue with all our might until we eradicate the Hamas organization – we will strike the entire chain of command, military depots, communications channels, tunnels, bunkers, and headquarters, everything,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
President Joe Biden has also pledged his support for Israel, with his administration already moving military units to the country as well as supplying them with munitions and interceptors to ensure the Iron Dome defense system has enough supplies.
“We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack,” he said in remarks days following the attack. “There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse.”
