TEL AVIV - Israel has announced the implementation of four-hour pauses in fighting each day in parts of the northern Gaza Strip, according to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby. The move comes as tens of thousands of people have already fled from the north to the south of Gaza, seeking refuge from the ongoing bombardment and deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

Kirby stated that an announcement will be made three hours prior to each pause, allowing civilians to utilize a second route along a coastal road to reach southern Gaza. Israeli officials have assured the United States that no operations will be conducted in the designated areas during these designated times. The aim of these daily pauses in fighting is to provide a brief period for Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza to relocate safely.

The decision to implement daily pauses follows discussions between the United States, Israel, and Qatar regarding a possible proposal for a dayslong ceasefire, according to foreign diplomats and a U.S. official. The specifics of how these daily pauses will differ from the current ones remain unclear. Israeli officials have emphasized that the existing brief suspensions in fighting are intended to facilitate the movement of Palestinian civilians to safer areas in southern Gaza.

However, shortly after the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement reaffirming that the fighting will continue until the release of Israeli hostages. The IDF spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the "local tactical pauses" do not signify a complete cessation of hostilities.

Israel has repeatedly demanded the release of the approximately 240 hostages taken by Hamas during their attack on October 7 before agreeing to a ceasefire. The ongoing conflict has raised concerns among top Biden administration officials about Israel's approach, particularly due to the high number of casualties in Gaza, which has exceeded 10,500.

According to Dov Waxman, director of UCLA's Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, Israel's move to implement daily pauses suggests a gradual alignment with the Biden administration's expectations. Waxman believes that testing how Hamas responds to these short pauses will be significant in determining the viability of a sustainable ceasefire and its potential impact on the ground.

Colonel Elad Goren, Head of the Civil Department of COGAT, the Israeli military liaison with the Palestinians, has emphasized the need to limit the timing of these pauses to protect Israeli forces from being targeted by Hamas. Goren stated that if necessary, the hours designated for pauses can be extended.

As the conflict persists, thousands of Palestinian civilians have already fled from northern Gaza, seeking refuge in the south, as they face continuous Israeli bombardment and worsening humanitarian conditions. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has stressed the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire, citing the escalating catastrophe in Gaza and the growing number of civilian casualties.

While the announcement of daily four-hour pauses in fighting brings temporary relief for Palestinian civilians, it does not offer a long-term solution to the immense suffering endured. Stephen Zunes, a professor of Middle East politics at the University of San Francisco, acknowledges the importance of any pause in the fighting to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. However, he emphasizes that the entire Gaza Strip remains a combat zone, underscoring the necessity for longer-lasting ceasefires.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog dismissed reports of an imminent deal for a longer pause in fighting, reiterating that Hamas has yet to present a substantial offer to secure the release of Israeli hostages.

The implementation of daily four-hour pauses in the conflict signifies a continued effort to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but the path towards a sustainable and lasting ceasefire remains uncertain.