ISRAEL has rejected the White House’s statement about agreeing to a daily four-hour pause in northern Gaza.
The White House announced Israel’s decision for daily pauses, beginning November 9, with Israel assuring no military operations during these breaks.
To recall, White House Spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the brief ceasefire would be implemented from Thursday.
“We’ve been told by the Israelis that there will be no military operations in these areas over the duration of the pause and that this process is starting today,” according to John Kirby, White House Spokesman.
Kirby also hailed this as a significant step, but reiterated the United States stance that now is not the time for a ceasefire.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Office rejected this statement, saying that there will be no ceasefire without captive release, countering reports of an imminent pause.
“The fighting is continuing and there will be no ceasefire without the release of our captives,” Office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said.
Despite Israel’s official stance, there have been intermittent halts in fighting by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) over recent days, facilitating the evacuation of Gaza City residents to the southern strip.
Reports said Israel established safe corridors from northern to southern GAZA, assisting around 50,000 Gazans the day before.
United States President Joe Biden has said there’s currently no possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Israel seeks to ‘demilitarize and deradicalize’ Gaza, not occupy—Netanyahu
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel does not intent to take control of the Gaza Strip after the current war between Israeli forces and Hamas.
He instead said that Israel would seek to establish a credible force to ensure that Gaza no longer presents as a threat to Israel.
Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, the Israeli prime minister outlined his government’s plans for Gaza after the war is over.
He said that Israeli forces would not attempt to displace the local residents of Gaza in the ongoing Israeli ground assault.
“What we have to see is Gaza demilitarized, deradicalized and rebuilt. All of that can be achieved, we don’t seek to conquer Gaza. We don’t seek to occupy GAZA. And we don’t seek to govern Gaza,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said.
Netanyahu went on to say that his country would need to establish what he calls as a credible force that could enter Gaza and kill the killers at anytime.
He argued that this move is what will prevent the mergence of another entity similar to Hamas.
Netanyahu’s Fox interview came just days after he declared that Israel would manage the overall security in Gaza for an indefinite period after the war.
He clarified that a new civilian government would be created for residents of Gaza, but did not specify how this move would be done nor the role of the IDF in the process.
