What is the difference between Gaza's 'pauses' and full-fledged cease-fire?

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The White House has announced that Israel agreed to institute brief lulls in its ongoing ground conflict in Gaza, but those fall far short of the cease-fire being demanded by the UN secretary-general and the vast majority of the international community.

Israel's agreement to institute 4-hour humanitarian "pauses" in specific areas in northern Gaza was rolled out by the executive mansion on Thursday.

The brief hiatuses are intended to 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," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

The pauses could further facilitate efforts to release the over 200 hostages taken to Gaza by the Palestinian group Hamas during the attack, according to the White House.

Although "pause" and "cease-fire" may appear to be similar terms, officials have stressed their notable differences during the conflict. Despite lacking precise definitions under international law, these terms carry distinct implications.

The UN describes a humanitarian pause as "a cessation of hostilities negotiated purely for humanitarian purposes". Conversely, a ceasefire is an agreement where warring nations or groups consent to cease hostilities.

Israel has described the breaks in the fighting as "limited tactical and local pauses."

That is a world apart from a broader cease-fire, or truce, in which hostilities between Israel and Hamas could draw to a close indefinitely.

The UN General Assembly on Oct. 27 overwhelmingly adopted in a 120-14 vote a resolution calling for a "durable and sustained humanitarian truce" in Gaza. The US was among the just over one dozen nations who voted against the resolution.

The vote came after multiple draft resolutions failed to clear the UN Security Council where permanent members, including the US, exercise their veto power to kill the efforts.

US President Joe Biden and his senior officials have repeatedly rejected the appeals for a broader cease-fire, saying it would only serve to benefit Hamas.

"We still don't believe the ceasefire is appropriate at this time. It does nothing, but I mean, Hamas benefits from it. And, frankly, a cease-fire at this time, would in all practicality legitimize what they did on Oct. 7. And we simply aren't going to stand for that at this time," said Kirby.

Some believe Biden's call for a humanitarian pause is aimed at safeguarding Israeli government interests, whereas Guterres's advocacy for a cease-fire is driven by concern for human beings rather than military interests.

Aid groups have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza with basic necessities such as food, water, and medicine rapidly being depleted, and with the death toll continuing to climb. International aid deliveries are just a "trickle" of what's needed, and represent just roughly 20% of pre-war levels, according to the UN.

Over 11,000 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women, according to data from the coastal enclave's Health Ministry.

For many, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the pauses announced this week are simply insufficient amid the wide-scale devastation and misery in Gaza.

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza is horrific. Not nearly enough food, water and medicine are coming in to meet people’s needs. Fuel to power hospitals and water plants is running out," Guterres said in a statement last Friday.

"The sanitation situation is abysmal. We are seeing an increase in diseases and respiratory illnesses, especially among children. An entire population is traumatized. Nowhere is safe. I renew my earlier appeals for a humanitarian ceasefire," he added.

Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' spokesperson, confirmed after the pauses were announced that the UN is continuing to pursue efforts to reach a humanitarian cease-fire.