Netanyahu rules out Gaza ceasefire unless all hostages released

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Israel will not agree to any ceasefire in Gaza unless the hostages being held by Hamas are released.

"I made it clear that we will continue with all the force. We refuse any ceasefire that does not include the liberation of our hostages," Netanyahu said after meeting Blinken.

Israel says 249 people are being held captive in Gaza.

Blinken said that Washington stood resolutely behind its ally Israel, but said "not enough" aid was getting into Gaza and that civilians must be protected.

"We need to do more to protect Palestinian civilians," Blinken said shortly before Netanyahu spoke.

"We've been clear that as Israel conducts its campaign to defeat Hamas, how it does matters. It matters because it is the right and lawful thing to do. It matters because failure to do so plays into the hands of Hamas and other armed groups."

The White House, including President Joe Biden, says it supports "humanitarian pauses" in the war between Israel and Hamas to allow aid in and civilians out. The European Union has made similar calls.

Blinken, who also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, will travel on to Jordan from Israel. He was last in Israel shortly after the war with Gaza's Hamas rulers broke out.