Arab nations demand Gaza ceasefire, but US warns it would help Hamas

International

Arab countries demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, but the US warns this would allow Hamas to regroup.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting leaders from Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan in Amman – as he pushes for humanitarian pauses in the fighting.

But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday there will be no temporary ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza until all Israeli hostages are released.

Earlier, a US envoy said 350,000-400,000 people remain in northern Gaza, which Israel has warned civilians to leave.

The Israeli military is also carrying out strikes in the south and the UN says no part of Gaza is safe.

Israel began bombing Gaza after Hamas killed more than 1,400 people in Israel and kidnapped more than 200 others.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 9,400 people have been killed in the Strip since 7 October.__bbc.com