Israel rejects calls to 'pause' Gaza assault

Palestinians inspect the damage of destroyed buildings following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)

Israel has not heeded calls to stop the siege of Gaza as Western allies have urged for a "humanitarian pause" to the relentless airstrike campaign.

The United States, European Union, United Kingdom and some G7 allies including Japan have each shown concern for the 2.3 million Palestinians currently caught in the crossfire as Israel wages war to destroy Hamas. Several foreign officials have asked Israel to pause the offensive to allow food, water, medicine and fuel to reach desperate Palestinian civilians and to give time to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

However, Israel says any respite from fighting benefits Hamas, which it is determined to destroy, and which it says diverts aid to its fighters.

"Israel is opposed to a humanitarian pause or ceasefire at this time," Lior Haiat, Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said on Friday, while a senior Israeli official said calls for a pause in fighting appeared in "poor faith."

Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan made similar comments, telling the General Assembly that a "ceasefire" would give Hamas "time to rearm itself, so they can massacre us again."