Kirby said the agreement on a pause in hostilities emerged from conversations between US and Israeli officials in recent days, including phone calls between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“It is our understanding that Israel will begin implementing four-hour pauses in areas of the northern Gaza Strip each day, with announcements made three hours in advance,” Kirby told reporters.
These pauses should allow civilians to leave dangerous areas, deliver humanitarian aid and could be used to free hostages in Gaza.
“We think these are important first steps and of course we want them to continue as long as necessary,” Kirby added.
He said a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants was inappropriate because it would help Hamas and “legitimize what they did on October 7.”
US President Joe Biden, who was leaving for Ohio on Thursday morning, told reporters that he would like to achieve a pause longer than three days.
Asked if he was disappointed with Netanyahu’s position, Biden said: “Netanyahu’s persuasion took a little longer than I expected.”
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday recalled his November 6 phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he called for a pause in the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
During an unprovoked attack by Hamas militants (recognized as a terrorist group in the United States) in Israel’s border areas on October 7, 1,400 Israelis were killed, more than 5,400 were injured, and 240 were taken hostage. Israel responded to the Hamas attack with aerial bombardments of the northern Gaza Strip and a ground invasion of Gaza by the Israeli army.
As of Thursday, 10,812 residents had died in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which reports to Hamas.
