Four-hour ceasefires to allow evacuation from Gaza

Sale passage for people and aid

- Giles Sheldrick 

ISRAEL last night bowed to international pressure by agreeing to daily four-hour "humanitarian pauses" in its bombardment of northern Gaza.

Halting hostilities is designed to allow Palestinian civilians to flee the fierce fighting with Hamas and enable aid to flow into the territory.

It is also hoped it will allow brief windows of opportunity for the safe passage of hostages held in Gaza.

People stranded in the north will be given a three-hour warning before each four-hour pause begins in a deal brokered by the US.

White House spokesman John Kirby said: "We've been told by the Israelis there will be no military operations in these areas over the duration of the pause.

"We want to see them continue for as long as they are needed." The agreement is seen as a "significant first step" towards a ceasefire and aims to avoid a complete humanitarian catastrophe developing in the Gaza Strip.

Israel insists it has already allowed "tactical, local pauses" for aid to enter the enclave but last night Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted there will be "no ceasefire" without the release of hostages being held captive by Hamas and other jihadi factions.