White House says ceasefire in Gaza is not ‘the right answer right now’

By AFP 30 October 2023, 10:52 pm

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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.”