US says Israel agrees to 4-hour daily pauses in northern Gaza

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Israel has agreed to institute four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in northern Gaza, the White House said on Thursday.

Announcements will be made by Israel three hours before the pauses are set to take effect, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

"We believe these pauses are a step in the right direction, particularly to help ensure that civilians have an opportunity to reach safer areas away from the active fighting," he said.

The pauses will allow humanitarian assistance to be moved into the areas where they are implemented and will allow Palestinians there "to get out of harm's way," according to Kirby.

According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, more than 10,000 civilians have been killed, including over 4,000 children, since Oct. 7 when the conflict began following a cross-border attack by Hamas that killed over 1,4000 people in Israel.