Now is not the time for the U.S. to call for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told a journalist at the White House on Tuesday. Kirby’s remarks were in response to the journalist raising that thousands of Palestinians, including many of his own family members, have been killed by the Israeli bombardment of Gaza since Hamas’ initial attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
If there were to be a cease-fire now, “Hamas benefits to the to the tune of being able to refit, renew themselves–plan and execute additional attacks,” Kirby said. “Right now is not the time for a general cease-fire.”
Now is the time, “to consider pauses in the fighting long enough so that folks like your relatives and family members can get this incredibly needed humanitarian assistance and perhaps a way to get out, if they want to get out,” Kirby said.
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