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Middle East conflict

Israel ready for new humanitarian pause in Gaza to have hostages released — president

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also claimed that responsibility lies entirely with the Hamas leadership

Israeli President Isaac Herzog Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP

Israeli President Isaac Herzog

© Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP

TEL AVIV, December 19. /TASS/. Israel is ready for another humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip and an increase in the amount of humanitarian aid for the enclave's population to ensure the release of hostages held by Hamas, President Isaac Herzog told a gathering of ambassadors.

"I can confirm that Israel is ready for another humanitarian pause and additional humanitarian aid [for Gaza] in order to enable the release of hostages," Herzog's office quoted the president as saying.

The Israeli president also noted that responsibility lies entirely with the Hamas leadership.

The president thanked those countries and their leaders who supported releasing the hostages as soon as possible. "Any efforts that your countries, your leaders, your mass media and your diplomats can exert to put pressure on various parties involved in this saga, are of vital importance," the president said in the speech addressed to ambassadors and diplomats of dozens of countries represented in the country.

He stressed that infants, elderly and ill people, wounded individuals and women are among the hostages.

"It is really important for us (Israel - TASS) to emphasize once again: we are not at war with the people of Gaza. We are fighting Hamas, they are our enemies. And in this regard we are taking all possible humanitarian steps in accordance with international humanitarian law," Herzog added. He assured that Israel is working hard to step up humanitarian aid to Gaza.

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