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Blinken Urges Humanitarian Pauses; Netanyahu Rejects any Halt without Release of Hostages
(Times of Israel) Jacob Magid - Speaking during a visit to Israel Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed Washington's desire to see humanitarian pauses in the fighting in Gaza. At the same time, he reiterated that Israel has a "right and, indeed, obligation to defend itself and to do everything it can to make sure that October 7th never happens again. No country should or could tolerate the slaughter" of its innocents. Blinken said he was shown "additional images, additional footage...[from] communities that were attacked. He said the clips are "almost beyond the human capacity to process." Blinken called it "shocking" that the brutality of the slaughter had "receded so quickly in the memories of so many," adding that 33 Americans were killed in the massacres. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that while Israel appreciates and values the support of President Joe Biden and the U.S., "Israel refuses a temporary ceasefire that does not include the release of our hostages. Israel will not enable the entry of fuel to Gaza and opposes sending money to the Strip."