We are waiting to hear from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken soon – he has been meeting with the Israeli PM and the war cabinet in Tel Aviv this morning and is in Israel to call for “concrete steps” to minimise harm to civilians in the Gaza Strip.
He is also bringing a message from President Joe Biden, who last night addressed the need for a break in conflict to get aid into Gaza. “I think we need a pause,” Biden said at a campaign event on Thursday.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby later clarified that such a humanitarian pause would be “temporary, localised and focused, focused on a particular objective or objectives, humanitarian aid in, people out”.
Both Israel and the US have rejected a blanket ceasefire between Palestinians and Israel, which they said would allow Hamas to regroup and resupply.
President Biden has previously expressed his “unwavering support” for Israel and its right to defend itself.