Israel agrees to “little pauses” in its bombardments: Netanyahu

Jerusalem, The Gulf Observer: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was open to “little pauses” in its bombardments — although it was not clear whether some kind of small stoppage had been agreed to or whether the US was satisfied with the scope of the Israeli commitment.

US President Joe Biden had raised the need for humanitarian pauses directly with Netanyahu on a call earlier Monday, but there was no agreement reached, the White House said.

Lulls in the fighting are being sought to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and the release of some of the estimated 240 hostages that Hamas seized when it initiated Operation Al Aqsa Flood on October 7, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Netanyahu, in an interview Monday night with ABC News, also said there would be no general ceasefire in Gaza without the release of the hostages.