Israeli PM Netanyahu rejects temporary ceasefire in Gaza unless hostages freed - BBC News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be no temporary ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza until all Israeli hostages are released.

He gave a televised address after talks with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who's called for humanitarian pauses in the fighting to help protect civilians.

Meanwhile, Israel's army said earlier it was on "very, very high alert" at its border with Lebanon as the leader of Islamist group Hezbollah broke his silence on the war.

While formal ceasefires are usually longer-term arrangements that allow parties to engage in dialogue, humanitarian pauses can last as little as a few hours.