White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the pause was "significant progress" as fighting has raged in Gaza City in recent days.
Fierce fighting is still going on in Gaza. Photo: AFP
“Israel will begin implementing four-hour pauses in northern Gaza each day, with three hours’ notice,” Mr Kirby told reporters.
“The Israelis have informed us that there will be no military activity in these areas during the ceasefire and this process will begin today,” he said on Thursday.
The pause will allow humanitarian aid to reach the area and allow civilians to flee the fighting, Kirby said. Israel has also opened a “humanitarian corridor” in recent days to allow “thousands” of people to leave the worst-hit northern Gaza area to the south.
“These are tactical stops on the ground to provide humanitarian assistance, which will be limited in time and space,” said Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht.
Calls for a ceasefire have been growing around the world recently, including a protest at the White House this weekend. But Biden has now ruled out a longer truce. "No. Not likely," Biden told reporters when asked about the possibility of a ceasefire.
President Biden said he “remains optimistic” about the release of the hostages – including fewer than 10 US citizens held in Gaza. “We will not stop until we get them.”
A senior US administration official said the ceasefire agreement was signed during Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Israel last Friday, followed by several days of detailed assessment.
Meanwhile, Mr. Biden has also warned Iran and its ally Hezbollah not to expand the conflict, but repeated attacks on U.S. forces in recent weeks have increased tensions.
Asked why US warplanes carried out new strikes on an Iran-linked weapons facility in eastern Syria on Wednesday, Mr Biden said “because they attacked us” and added that US forces would strike back “if we had to”.
Bui Huy (according to AFP, CNA)
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