WASHINGTON: The White House on Sunday advised Israel to scale back its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, as the war entered 100th day.
However, Israeli leaders again vowed to move ahead with their operation against the besieged Palestinian enclave ruled by Hamas.
The White House comments show the growing differences between the close allies over the war.
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes struck targets in Lebanon following a Hezbollah missile attack that killed two Israelis. The exchange of fire underscored concerns that the war in Gaza could trigger wider fighting across the region.
The health ministry in the Gaza Strip on Sunday reported that the death toll has reached 23,968, mostly women and children, in the Palestinian territory over the course of 100 days of relentless Israeli bombardments since October 7. The ministry has recorded 60,582 wounded as a result of the continuous Israeli attacks.
US urges Israel to low-intensity of operations in Gaza
Speaking on CBS, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US has been asking Israel to low-intensity of operations in Gaza.
Making his comments on Face the Nation, he said it’s the right time for that transition and we’re talking to them about doing that.
The war has sent tensions across the region, with Israel exchanging almost daily fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and other militias attacking US targets in Syria and Iraq. In addition, Yemen’s Houthi have also been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea.
Many hostages likely killed says Hamas blaming Israel
A spokesman for Hamas has said many of the captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip are likely to have been killed, blaming the Israeli leadership for their fate.
Abu Obeida in a televised statement said the fate of many of the enemy’s hostages and detainees has become unknown in recent weeks due to the Zionist aggression.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has announced that his group won’t stop targeting Israeli troops until a ceasefire is in place for Gaza.
Nasrallah in a speech said our front is inflicting losses on the enemy and putting pressure on displaced people.
READ ALSO: Gaza Death Toll Nears 24,000 in 100 Days of Israeli Bombardments
Tens of thousands of people in Europe and the Middle East took to the streets Sunday on the 100th day of the war.
Israel has been under immense international pressure to end the war in Gaza, but it has so far been supported by US diplomatic and military assistance.
During a visit to the region last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked Israel to do more to reduce harm to civilians and increase the supplies of desperately needed humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The White House spokesman, Kirby said that Israel had taken some steps toward scaling back the offensive.
