Israeli president says country is ready for another cease-fire to free remaining hostages

Israel's President Isaac Herzog said Tuesday his country is ready to enter into another temporary truce with Hamas to secure the release of more hostages.

Speaking to a group of ambassadors from 80 countries, Herzog said Israel is ready for another pause in fighting and for additional humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza. 

"I can reiterate the fact that Israel is ready for another humanitarian pause and additional humanitarian aid in order to enable the release of hostages. And the responsibility lies fully with Sinwar and the leadership of Hamas," Herzog said, according to the Times of Israel.

The Israeli president also urged international organizations to do more to deliver aid to Gaza.

“The amount of humanitarian aid can be tripled instantaneously,” he claimed, alleging that the U.N. and partner organizations have not sent enough trucks to Gaza.

The U.N. has said Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip has made it difficult to deliver aid. The U.S. has likewise said Israel's closure of the Kerem Shalom Crossing has inhibited aid deliveries, urging the country to reopen the crossing. Israel did so on Sunday, the Times of Israel reported, with nearly 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid being delivered to Gaza.

“You can triple the amount of trucks easily if there was only an effort by the United Nations and its partners. The world has to know that you could have had tens of thousands of tons a day more going into Gaza,” Herzog said.