Netanyahu rejects cease-fire after Blinken meeting

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu (R) in Tel Aviv, Israel on November 03, 2023. (Photo by Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO)/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected international requests for a humanitarian ceasefire.

“Israel refuses a temporary ceasefire that does not include the return of our hostages,” the prime minister said Friday in a televised address.

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Netanyahu's recommitment to continued military conflict with Hamas militants in Gaza comes after an unsuccessful meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken traveled to Israel with newly appointed US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew on Friday morning in hopes of negotiating a humanitarian pause on the conflict.

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"We are absolutely focused on getting hostages back and getting them back to their families in safety," Blinken said at a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel.

He continued, "And we believe that, among other things, a humanitarian pause could help that effort, could facilitate it. It's one of the reasons why we're focused on it."