By Ken Afor
The White House announced that beginning Thursday, Israel will cease its operations in northern Gaza for four hours per day, marking the first time there has been a break in the over month-long conflict that has left thousands dead and caused concerns about the possibility of wider regional conflict.
John Kirby, White House national security spokesperson, stated that the pauses were meaningful initial actions which would enable people to take refuge through two charitable corridors.
“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.
Discussions between U.S. and Israeli officials, including U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in recent days had resulted in the emergence of the pauses, which were announced three hours prior, as reported by Kirby.
Israeli forces made advancements in the north of the Gaza Strip towards two major hospitals, combatting Hamas militants amidst ruined buildings as the circumstances of the besieged Palestinians became progressively worse.
People along the frontline path reported that thousands of additional Palestinians had to flee from the north, which was in the midst of a ferocious battle, to the south. This flight was extremely dangerous, as the road was covered with corpses, yet Israel had still ordered the Palestinians to evacuate.
Although numerous individuals remain in the north, they are crowded into Al Shifa Hospital and al-Quds Hospital while the ground is being fought over and more Israeli air strikes bombard from the sky. Israel claims that its enemies, Hamas, have command centres located within the hospitals.
The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported that the heads of the CIA and Mossad intelligence agency from Israel held a meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister in Doha to argue about a potential agreement regarding hostages. Qatar has already acted as an intermediary with Hamas in the past.
At a gathering in Paris, officials from about 80 nations/organizations sought strategies to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza and enable wounded civilians to escape the ongoing encirclement.
“Without a ceasefire, lifting of the siege and indiscriminate bombardment and warfare, the haemorrhage of human lives will continue,” Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said before the White House announcement.
Israel and the United States, its main ally, declared that a full ceasefire would be advantageous to Hamas.
In response to a Hamas raid on southern Israel on Oct. 7 which reportedly killed 1,400 people (mostly civilians) and resulted in 240 hostages being taken, Israel launched a major offensive against Gaza.
The worst day of bloodshed in Israel’s 75-year history was met with international censure of Hamas and much empathy and backing for Israel.
In response, Israel’s counteraction in the Hamas-governed enclave has triggered great alarm as a humanitarian disaster has emerged.
As of Thursday, it has been reported by Palestinian officials that 10,812 citizens of Gaza have perished due to air and artillery strikes, with a staggering 40% of those fatalities being children.
Allegedly, basic necessities are becoming limited while the destruction by relentless Israeli bombardments is becoming more and more extensive.
Israeli tanks stationed around Gaza City, a Hamas stronghold, were reported by local residents. There were intense street battles reported by both sides, with each side suffering heavy casualties.
Israel declared that 33 of its soldiers died as they pushed further into Gaza City during the advancement of their ground operation and pledged to annihilate Hamas.
