A ceasefire in Gaza would only help Hamas as Israel wages an air campaign against the Islamist militant group, but humanitarian "pauses" are a tool to let vital aid in, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby tells reporters. "We want to see all measure of protection for civilians, and pauses in operation is a tool and a tactic that can do that for temporary periods of time. That's not the same as saying a ceasefire," John Kirby says. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES