Blinken Warns Against 2nd Front; PM-No Ceasefire Until Hostages Released

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken speaking in Tel Aviv states that "We have been clear that we're determined there should not be a second or third front in this conflict...The US is committed to deterring aggression from any party and will take steps necessary to deal with it....We are, and will continue to, have discussions with partners in the region and beyond about what should follow the war in Gaza."

• Blinken: "What I heard today was a clear commitment from the Israeli gov't to deal with extremist violence in the West Bank." Comes as the Times of Israel reports that according to unnamed officials, the Netanyahu gov'ts policies in the West Bank and the escalation in settler violence has 'distracted' the White House from the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
• Blinken has reiterated US support for 'pauses' in the fighting in Gaza to allow for humanitarian aid to reach civilians, adding "We see it as a way also… of creating a better environment in which hostages can be released".
• However, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has restated that there will be no ceasefire until all hostages held by Hamas are released. Says that he made clear to Blinken the military operation in Gaza will continue "with full force".
• Despite increasing US and European pressure for 'humanitarian pauses', Netanyahu's hard line stance would appear to suggest that there will not be any curtailment in fighting in the short term (unless the unlikely scenario of Hamas releasing all hostages comes about).