Israel will not agree to any temporary ceasefire with Hamas until it frees the hundreds of hostages it is holding captive, Benjamin Netanyahu has said, in an apparent rebuff to US calls for a “pause” to the conflict.
“Israel refuses a temporary ceasefire that does not include the return of our hostages,” the Israeli prime minister said during a televised address.
His remarks came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had urged Israel on Friday to allow for humanitarian pauses in the war to facilitate the release of hostages and allow greater aid to flow into Gaza.
The Pentagon said the US was conducting unarmed drone flights over the enclave to boost hostage recovery efforts.
“The US is conducting unarmed UAV flights over Gaza, as well as providing advice and assistance to support our Israeli partner as they work on their hostage recovery efforts,” Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement.
