Israel resists US pressure to pause the war to allow more aid into Gaza Strip

Palestinians look for survivors after an Israeli air strike (AP Photo/Doaa AlBaz, File)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back against growing US pressure for a “humanitarian pause” in the war to protect civilians and allow more aid into the Gaza Strip, insisting there will be no temporary ceasefire until the roughly 240 hostages held by Hamas are released.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken made his third trip to Israel since the war began, reiterating support for Israel’s campaign to crush Hamas after its October 7 attack in southern Israel.