White House exploring idea of pauses in Israel-Hamas conflict

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 2, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Acquire Licensing Rights

WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) – The White House is exploring the idea of pauses in the Israel-Hamas conflict to help civilians in Gaza and any such temporary pause will not stop Israel from defending itself, national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday.

“What we’re trying to do is explore the idea of as many pauses as might be necessary to continue to get aid out and to continue to work to get people out safely, including hostages,” he told reporters at a briefing.

United Nations experts called on Thursday for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, saying time was running out for Palestinian people there who find themselves at “grave risk of genocide.”

Israel says it is aiming its attacks at Hamas, not civilians, and accuses the group of using them as human shields.

Nearly four weeks of Israeli bombardment against the Gaza Strip in retaliation for deadly attacks by Hamas gunmen in southern Israel on Oct. 7 have killed more than 9,000 people, made up of a majority of women and children, health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave say.

“We’re doing everything we can to work with our Israeli counterparts to try to minimize the risk of civilian deaths and collateral damage,” Kirby said.

Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Katharine Jackson; writing by Costas Pitas; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Sandra Maler

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