The United States wants real and extended pauses in fighting in Gaza so assistance can get to people who need it, but the best way to help people would be to end the war, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.
"Israel, by the standards it set itself, has accomplished the goals that it set for itself," Blinken told reporters during a visit to Brussels. "This should be a time to end the war."
After the expiry of a 30-day U.S. deadline for Israel to take steps to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza on Tuesday, Washington said Israel was not blocking aid to Gaza and therefore not violating U.S. law.
Eight international aid groups said Israel had failed to meet the U.S. demands to improve access for assistance. Food security experts have said it is likely that famine is imminent in parts of Gaza.
Biden, whose term ends in January and who will be replaced with his predecessor Donald Trump, has strongly backed Israel since Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.
Trump, a staunch supporter of Israel, has more strongly backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's goal of destroying Hamas. He has promised to bring peace to the Middle East that has been unwound during the Biden administration.
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