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State Department reiterates push for Gaza ceasefire; says Hamas could end much of the suffering
Summary
At a State Department briefing, the spokesperson said U.S. policy remains focused on ending the fighting in Gaza and securing hostage releases, and declined to describe whether Israeli operations constitute war crimes from the podium.
The State Department spokesperson said the United States is focused on negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. The spokesperson said that, in the department’s view, ‘‘Hamas could release the hostages’’ and that doing so would end a major driver of the violence.
Reporters asked about recent killings of journalists and whether the United States considered those acts war crimes. The spokesperson declined to label incidents from the podium, saying she would not make determinations about what legally constitutes a war crime in that forum. She reiterated broad support for Israel’s right to defend itself while stressing the humanitarian imperative to stop civilian suffering.
The briefing did not announce new diplomatic initiatives or specific timelines for humanitarian access; the spokesperson said negotiations remain the way to secure civilian protections and hostage releases.
