United States National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said calls for a ceasefire now “will only benefit Hamas.”
He made this statement as Israel stepped up attacks on a number of its targets in the Gaza Strip, ahead of a previously projected ground invasion against Hamas militants.
The Israel-Hamas war quickly sent the death toll in Gaza soaring, and the United States fears the fighting could expand the conflict in the region.
Gaza, home to 2.3 million residents, has run out of food, clean water and medicine since Israel blocked the territory following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
The aid convoys allowed into Gaza so far have brought only a fraction of what is needed, and the UN says distribution will stop if there is no more fuel to run the aid trucks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday (24/10) called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza so that aid teams can distribute fuel and vital life-saving health supplies, including to a number of main hospitals along the Gaza Strip. (em/rs)