Israel Rejects Allies’ Requests to ‘Pause’ Gaza Assault in First Open Disagreement, Reports Reuters

By Dan Williams, Michelle Nichols, and Andrew Gray

Israel has dismissed calls for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, even as its closest Western allies have united around the notion of "humanitarian pauses" to allow aid to flow into the region.

As international concern grows over the dire situation facing the 2.3 million people in Gaza, heavily impacted by Israel’s extensive airstrikes, major nations are urging Israel to permit these pauses to facilitate the delivery of emergency supplies and the release of hostages taken by Hamas militants.

The debate marks a notable divergence between Israel and its supporters, including the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan, after nearly three weeks of strong alignment following Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in significant casualties and hostage-taking.

"Israel is opposed to a humanitarian pause or ceasefire at this time," stated Lior Haiat, a spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry. An Israeli official characterized calls for a pause as appearing to be made in "poor faith."

Discussions had intensified at the U.N. and Brussels, leading to a consensus between nations advocating a ceasefire and those prioritizing Israel’s right to self-defense.

According to Israeli sources, Hamas is responsible for around 1,400 deaths in Israel, including children, and has taken more than 200 hostages. Conversely, the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza reports over 7,300 Palestinian fatalities due to Israeli airstrikes, with approximately 3,000 being children. Essential supplies, including food, water, and medicine, are running low in the densely populated strip.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa mentioned ongoing diplomatic efforts to encourage Israel to allow a pause. "I welcome the growing global consensus for a humanitarian pause in the conflict. I repeat my call for a humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the delivery of life-saving supplies at the required scale," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a recent statement.

At present, any cessation of hostilities seems unlikely as Israel has intensified its ground and aerial operations. The ongoing discussions led by the U.S. with Egypt and the U.N. focus on improving aid access through the Rafah border crossing.

A White House official confirmed these discussions and highlighted efforts to persuade Israel to permit essential fuel supplies for hospitals. Achieving consensus on these matters could shift attention towards reducing violence in Gaza to facilitate aid delivery.

Recent reports indicate that only about 12 trucks per day are entering Gaza, a significant decrease from the average of 500 before the escalation of violence, according to Guterres.

Israel maintains that any pause would benefit Hamas, which it seeks to eliminate, arguing that such a break allows militants to replenish their resources. "A ceasefire means giving Hamas time to rearm, enabling them to carry out further attacks against us," stated Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan.

On Friday, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a non-binding resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce and demanding unobstructed access to aid in Gaza while ensuring civilian protection.

Earlier, a Hamas official mentioned that while they had released four hostages so far, any further releases would be contingent upon a ceasefire.

The lack of consensus among Israel’s allies regarding the definition of a humanitarian pause is evident. Emanuela-Chiara Gillard, a senior fellow at the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law, and Armed Conflict, noted that reaching agreement on terminology does not guarantee a pause’s implementation. She emphasized the need for a neutral intermediary to establish clear terms for such actions.

Gillard explained that "ceasefire" usually refers to a broader halt to hostilities, while humanitarian pauses are more limited in scope and aimed at specific objectives. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby described a humanitarian pause as "a temporary and local agreement to stop the fighting long enough for a discrete task."

He added that the duration and coverage of any potential pauses would depend on the situation, indicating that multiple pauses over several days might be necessary.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric acknowledged that while the distinctions in terminology are semantic, the primary goal remains to halt the fighting to ensure that humanitarian aid can reach those in need.