A five-day ceasefire is set begin in Yemen on Tuesday after Houthi rebels accepted a proposal from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government offered the truce last week amid mounting criticism that its military campaign and blockade of Yemen has caused massive civilian suffering. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the pause could be renewed if it lasts.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir: “We announced that we were looking at a five-day ceasefire in Yemen for humanitarian purposes in order to allow the flow of humanitarian assistance to Yemen. We have made a decision that the ceasefire will begin this Tuesday, May 12, at 11 p.m., and will last for five days and will be subject to renewal if it works out.”

The Houthis say they hope the pause will lead to political talks under the guidance of the United Nations. The Saudi-led coalition has escalated airstrikes before the truce takes effect, bombing the compound of the Houthi-allied former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, in the capital Sana’a. The attack came just after the Saudi government declared the province of Saada a military zone and ordered all its residents to flee. In a statement, the U.N.’s humanitarian coordinator warned the threat to Saada could be “a contravention of international humanitarian law” that has “put countless civilians at risk.”