"Israel's Encirclement of Gaza City Prompts US Call for 'Localised' Humanitarian Pauses"

Israel claims to have encircled Gaza City, the main target in its campaign against Hamas, as the United States plans to urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to temporary humanitarian pauses in the fighting. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is set to visit Israel to discuss steps to minimize harm to civilians in Gaza. The conflict has entered its fourth week, with Hamas militants launching hit-and-run attacks from underground tunnels. Calls for a ceasefire have intensified due to mounting casualties and severe shortages of essential supplies in Gaza. The UN has warned of a "grave risk of genocide," while Israel accuses Hamas of hiding among the civilian population.