On Friday, the United States called on Israel to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and take further measures to protect Palestinian civilians.

Meanwhile, Israel’s prime minister insisted that a cease-fire in the ongoing conflict would not occur until Hamas released hostages.

The leader of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group added to concerns about the conflict’s escalation by pledging more attacks along the Lebanon border.

Israeli forces continued to tighten their encirclement of Gaza City, a focal point of their campaign against Hamas militants who initiated the war with an attack on Israeli communities on October 7.

There have been persistent concerns that the conflict could spread to other areas, with Israel and Hezbollah engaging in periodic exchanges of fire along the Lebanon border, ABC News reported.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in his first public speech since the war’s start, indicated that his group had entered the conflict with recent cross-border fighting but did not formally declare full engagement in the war. He suggested that further escalation was possible.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his third visit to Israel since the start of the conflict, reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself.

However, he emphasized the need for a “humanitarian pause” to facilitate the delivery of aid to Palestinian civilians in light of the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would not agree to a temporary cease-fire that did not include the return of hostages abducted by Hamas. He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to its military offensive.

Written by B.C. Begley