The issue has also divided Democrats in Washington, where the Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, and the House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, joined a “ March for Israel” on the National Mall on Tuesday. John Kirby, a spokesperson for the national security council, told reporters on Tuesday: “I want to be clear, when we’re talking ceasefire versus pause, there’s a difference.
Last week Israel agreed to put in place four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in its assault on Hamas in northern Gaza but so far the White House has resisted demands for a ceasefire, contending that it would give Hamas time to regroup. But as the death toll in Gaza mounts the president, under pressure from his left flank, is now asking the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to restrain some tactics to ease civilian suffering. Photograph: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Imagesīiden has been unwavering in his support for Israel since Hamas’s terrorist attack on 7 October killed more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals. Displaced Palestinians arrive in a safer zone south of Gaza City on 12 November.
