JERUSALEM, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army on Wednesday said that it would hold fire in the Gaza Strip for three hours every day to allow local residents to receive basic supplies.

Starting from Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is expected to cease its operation across the Hamas-ruled enclave from 1 p.m.(1100 GMT) to 4 p.m.(1400 GMT), an IDF spokesman told Xinhua, adding that the plan was part of the "humanitarian corridor" efforts.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said that the Jewish state has decided to set up a humanitarian corridor in Gaza to deliver basic supplies to local residents.

The measure came as over 600 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2,700 others wounded in Gaza since the so-called Operation Cast Lead began on Dec. 27. International pressure is mounting up for an immediate ceasefire.