Israel-Gaza war: Netanyahu says Israel open to ‘little pauses’ in fighting, for aid, hostages, but no ‘general ceasefire’
- The Israeli PM reiterated his nation’s rejection of a ceasefire without the release of all hostages held in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave
- Meanwhile, the UN Security Council failed again to agree on a resolution on the month-long war
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would consider “tactical little pauses” in Gaza fighting to facilitate the entry of aid or the exit of hostages, but again rejected calls for a general ceasefire, despite growing international pressure.
Having encircled the densely populated Gaza City in the north of the enclave, where the Hamas Islamist group is based, Israel’s military said it had taken a militant compound and was set to attack fighters hiding in a warren of underground tunnels.
Israel has bombarded the enclave since the Hamas raid on southern Israel one month ago, when its fighters killed 1,400 people and seized 240 hostages.
Gaza health officials on Tuesday said the Israeli assault had killed 10,328 Palestinians, most of them civilians, including over 4,000 children.
Both Israel and Hamas have rebuffed mounting calls for a halt in fighting. Israel says hostages should be released first. Hamas says it will not free them nor stop fighting while Gaza is under attack.
Netanyahu said a general ceasefire would hamper his country’s war effort, but pausing fighting for humanitarian reasons, an idea supported by Israel’s top ally the United States, would continue to be considered based on circumstances.
