On Thursday, the White House announced that Israel has agreed to daily four-hour pauses in fighting in northern Gaza to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid and allow people to flee hostilities. However, within hours of the announcement, Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza's largest hospital, al-Shifa, and surrounded four other hospitals in the besieged enclave.

With the death toll surpassing 11,000 and over 27,000 injuries, the dire situation in Gaza is worsening. Al-Shifa Hospital, which has received only two shipments of vital supplies since the escalation of the conflict, is barely operational due to fighting and the Israeli siege on Gaza. Water shortages, fuel depletion, and a deepening humanitarian crisis further exacerbate the situation.

While the humanitarian pauses offered a glimmer of hope for restocking hospitals and delivering essential supplies, the recent attacks have raised concerns about Israel's motives, as well as those of the US. Many experts believe that these pauses are insufficient, with both the US and Israel asserting that there will be no ceasefire with Hamas.

Emanuela-Chiara Gillard, a senior fellow at the Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, emphasized the need for an agreed pause between Israel, Hamas, and other factions. She raised doubts about whether Hamas would respect the unilateral pause that Israel announced.

Gillard further stressed that clear communication of the pauses by Israel is crucial to prevent civilians from inadvertently becoming targets. Other analysts echoed the sentiment that a humanitarian pause falls short of addressing the pressing issues and called for a complete cessation of hostilities to facilitate uninterrupted humanitarian aid, safe evacuation of foreigners, and potential negotiations.

However, the United States' endorsement of the pause implies its support for Israel's actions while framing it as a humanitarian measure, according to Sami Hamdi, the managing director at International Interest. Pressure is mounting on President Joe Biden, both domestically and internationally, to call for a ceasefire. Resignations from the Department of State and protests from former campaign staffers have further intensified the pressure.

Despite the potential benefits, Palestinians on the ground remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the humanitarian pause. Organizations continue to advocate for a comprehensive humanitarian ceasefire across Gaza, aiming to protect civilians and preserve their dignity.

As tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv escalate, delays in announcing the pause highlight the strained relationship between the two allies. Tel Aviv fears that the humanitarian pause is a ploy to initiate ceasefire talks, while the US seeks to present its support for Israel as a humanitarian gesture.

With the future uncertain, Palestinians find themselves facing an unenviable choice between leaving their lands for Israeli settlers or staying and risking their lives.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the humanitarian pause will provide the much-needed respite to alleviate the suffering of those caught in the crossfire.