Inside the fourth visit to Israel since the Gaza operation began in response to Hamas attacks on October 7, the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is returning to press for a pause this Friday. The Netanyahu government is considering temporary, limited pauses in military actions in Gaza to permit hostage releases and humanitarian aid deliveries, according to sources from the Biden administration cited by The New York Times.
According to these sources, the pauses would be time- and place-specific. They would aim to help secure the release of captives and establish a corridor for aid to reach residents in the Strip. American officials are focused on ensuring that aid convoys are not endangered by shelling or ground fighting and that Palestinians can safely leave their homes to obtain water and food.
This humanitarian pause proposal has already featured prominently in U.S. government rhetoric for more than a week. Washington sought approval for it at the United Nations Security Council last week but it did not pass. President Biden publicly endorsed the idea for the first time on Wednesday after being urged at a campaign stop in Minneapolis by a rabbi to push for a ceasefire: “I think we need to take a break.” The Netanyahu government did not respond to those comments.
Biden framed any possible pause as linked to the release of prisoners held by Hamas, noting that more than 200 hostages remain in captivity. It has also been reported that he convinced Netanyahu to suspend bombings around October 20 to secure the release of two Americans, and that he is negotiating with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Israel about reopening the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian relief, aid workers, and wounded individuals to move in and out. As Biden confirmed on Thursday, 74 American citizens have used this route to leave Gaza or travel with dual citizenship.
Washington’s core stance—an unwavering alliance with Israel that provides political, economic, and military support while affirming Israel’s right and duty to defend itself—remains unchanged. The United States has not called for a ceasefire, arguing that such a move could bolster Hamas. Last week, Washington voted against a United Nations General Assembly resolution urging immediate, permanent, and sustainable humanitarian relief and civilian protection.
Pressure rises
Both international and domestic voices are mounting pressure on Biden as the humanitarian crisis deepens in besieged Gaza. Food, water, medicines, and fuel are running low, and civilian casualties have mounted. Health ministry figures, considered credible by many independent observers, indicate that thousands have perished in the conflict, including a recent bombing at the Yabalia refugee camp that killed more than a hundred people.
Moments before boarding the plane to the region, Blinken reaffirmed that the agenda with the Netanyahu government would include concrete steps to minimize harm to civilians, while officials offered few details about timing or specifics of potential pauses.