US seeking to create 'as many' humanitarian 'pauses' as necessary in Gaza

WASHINGTON

The US is seeking to broker "as many pauses as might be necessary" to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, and allow for the safe exit of those wishing to flee the violence, the White House said Thursday.

"When we're talking about humanitarian pause, what we're talking about are temporary, localized pauses in the fighting to meet a certain goal or goals," said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

The comments come one day after US President Joe Biden endorsed the idea of a humanitarian "pause," a concept that falls short of the growing chorus for a full cease-fire to halt hostilities amid the rising death toll in Gaza.

Biden has resolutely resisted calls for a cease-fire but personally endorsed a smaller-scale humanitarian "pause" Wednesday. The president made the announcement after being interrupted by a rabbi during a speech in the state of Minnesota.

"As a rabbi, I need you to call for a cease-fire right now," the heckler, identified as Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg, shouted while Biden was speaking.

Biden responded: "I think we need a pause. A pause means give time to get the prisoners out."

Biden's senior officials have said a cease-fire would only benefit Hamas, a claim reiterated Thursday by Kirby and the Pentagon.

Democratic US Sen. Dick Durbin is the first US senator to break with the president and endorse a broader cease-fire but said Hamas must first release the more than 200 hostages it took from Israel during an Oct. 7 cross-border attack.

The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza has soared to 9,061, including 3,760 children and 2,326 women, according to the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave.

Kirby said 74 American citizens were able to leave Gaza on Thursday.

"We're hoping that that number could increase throughout the day," he said. "We want to get them all out as soon as possible. But I couldn't put you couldn't put a date on the calendar and tell you that's it.”

There are between 1,000 and 1,200 US nationals remaining in Gaza, including permanent residents, family members and dual nationals, according to the White House.