As the IDF continues to close in on Hamas in the heart of Gaza, the US announced that Israel will implement daily four-hour ‘humanitarian pauses’ in fighting in the north of the strip. Hours after the announcement yesterday, during a press conference, the Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant spoke rather differently about the pauses. He stated that Israel would not stop the fighting against Hamas until all the hostages held by the group had been returned. Only then could proper humanitarian pauses go ahead.
The inconsistent messaging from the American and Israeli sides regarding these humanitarian pauses reflects the American administration’s frustration with Israel’s refusal to pause the fighting. The US wants pauses that will allow for more humanitarian aid and enable more Palestinian civilians to get to safety. They also believe that Hamas will be more inclined to make concessions about release of Israeli hostages if the pauses go ahead.
Pauses without any clear concessions from Hamas are also extremely unpopular with the Israeli public
Israel has made it clear that a full ceasefire will not happen.
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