President Biden Asks For A Three Day Military Operations Pause, White House Says Israel Agrees Four Hours

JAKARTA - Israel reportedly agrees to a four-hour military operation hiatus every day, to allow corridors to be safe for humanity, as US President Joe Biden hopes a three-day pause.

A senior White House official on Thursday said Israel agreed to conduct a four-hour military operation break every day in the northern Gaza region.

This move seems to formalize a pattern of stopping violence so that humanitarian aid can flow into the enclave, allowing civilians to escape fighting.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Israel would announce a three-hour gap in advance.

"We have been told by Israel that there will be no military operations in the region during the break and this process will begin today," Kirby said.

He said the United States welcomed the development, calling the pause a "step in the right direction."

"We have urged Israel to minimize civilian casualties and do everything they can to reduce that number," Kirby said, saying the pause would provide "a few hours of breathing room" for civilians to avoid danger.

This pause will also provide a "short window" for possible safe travel for the hostages detained by Hamas, Kirby continued.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden told reporters he asked for a break longer than four hours.

"I've asked for a break of more than three days," he said.

When asked if he was frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Biden said it needed time.

"It took longer than I expected," he said.

As of Thursday, about 10,812 Gazans had died as a result of Israeli attacks, of which about 40 percent were children, Palestinian officials said.

Israel carried out attacks and blockades against Gaza in retaliation for the attack by the Hamas militant group on the southern region of the country on 7 October.