Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 30, 2023
From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 30, 2023
White House says ceasefire in Gaza is not ‘the right answer right now’
IDF flares light up the night sky in northern Gaza Strip, October 30, 2023. (AP Photo/ Abed Khaled)
The United States does not support current calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, the White House says, adding that “pauses” to get aid into Gaza should be considered instead.
“We do not believe that a ceasefire is the right answer right now,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says. “We do not support a ceasefire at this time.”
Kirby also says the US is “confident” of increasing the number of aid trucks getting into Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt to around 100 a day.
“This first phase that we talked to the Israelis about is trying to get it up to about 100 a day,” Kirby says, adding that around 45 had got through yesterday. “We’re confident that we can get there in coming days.”
