Israel-Hamas war: Gaza death toll rises to 10,328, Biden calls for humanitarian pauses in fighting

The Gaza health ministry claimed on Tuesday that 10,328 people have lost their lives during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Among the dead, many are reportedly children.

The conflict began on October 7 when Israel launched a substantial military operation in response to a deadly attack by Hamas in southern Israel.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with ABC News said that Israel will have “overall security responsibility” in Gaza “for an indefinite period” after its war with Hamas and expressed openness to “little pauses” in the current fighting to facilitate the release of hostages.

Netanyahu also insisted on the release of more than 240 hostages held by Hamas.

The Israeli PM added that he was open to “tactical little pauses.” US President Joe Biden had raised the need for humanitarian pauses directly with Netanyahu on a call earlier Monday, but no agreement was reached, the White House said.

The United States acknowledged on Monday there had been “thousands” of civilian casualties in Gaza, after President Joe Biden previously called into question the validity of numbers published by Hamas authorities.

Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said, according to AFP, “As it relates to civilian casualties in Gaza… we know the numbers are in the thousands.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Japan on Tuesday for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers that will look to agree a common line on the Israel-Hamas war.

Blinked called for the bloc to speak with “one clear voice”.

G7 members have taken divergent approaches at the UN towards the conflict, with France voting for a “humanitarian truce” in the General Assembly, the United States voting against and the remaining five abstaining.

With inputs from agencies