• Source:JND
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Israel-Hamas War: Amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to press ahead in Gaza until the hostages are freed. He ruled out the possibility of a cease-fire, reports news agency AP. 

The Israeli Prime Minister spoke on Friday after his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who pressed Israel for a temporary pause in its offensive in order to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Blinken also urged Israel to do more to protect civilians from its attacks. US State Secretary Antony Blinken on Friday met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time since Israel declared war on the terrorist organisation Hamas.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are meeting for the third time since the outbreak of the war, at the Kirya in Tel Aviv," read a post on the official X handle of the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

In a statement to reporters on Friday, Netanyahu said Israel is continuing with “all of its power” and “refuses a temporary cease-fire that doesn't include a return of our hostages”.

According to the AP, Hamas kidnapped some 240 people on October 7 in an attack that triggered the war between Israel and Hamas. The attack killed around 1,400 people, while over 9,000 people have been killed since Israel began striking Gaza the same day, according to Palestinian health officials. 

Meanwhile, the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah says his militia is not deterred by US warnings to stay out of the Israel-Hamas war. In a televised speech on Friday, Hassan Nasrallah referred to US military deployments in the region, saying “your fleets in the Mediterranean ... will not scare us”. He said that Hezbollah is prepared for all options and added that his powerful militia is engaged in unprecedented cross-border fighting with Israel and threatened escalation.

(With input from agencies)