9,000 & COUNTING...DIE
NT Bureau, Agencies
Tel Aviv/Gaza: Israeli troops fought with Hamas militants on the edges of Gaza City on Thursday, as the Palestinian death toll rose above 9,000.
With no end in sight after nearly four weeks of war, U.S. and Arab leaders raised pressure on Israel to ease its siege and at least briefly halt its attacks in order to aid civilians.
U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken was heading to the region for talks Friday in Israel and Jordan, after President Joe Biden suggested a humanitarian “pause” in the Gaza fighting to let in aid for Palestinians and let out foreign nationals.
On Wednesday, an apparent agreement among the U.S., Egypt, Israel and Qatar, which mediates with Hamas, allowed hundreds of Palestinians with foreign passports and dozens of wounded to leave Gaza for the first time. Dozens more left on Thursday.
Israel did not immediately respond to Biden’s remarks. Prime Minister Netanyahu has previously ruled out a cease-fire, vowing to destroy Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip after its bloody Oct.
7 rampage in southern Israel in which the militants killed hundreds of men, women and kids and took some 240 people captive. Arab countries, including those allied with the U.S. and at peace with Israel, have expressed mounting unease with the war.
Jordan recalled its ambassador from Israel and told Israel’s envoy to remain out of the country until there’s a halt to the war.