Ceasefire would allow Hamas to regroup: Pentagon spokesperson
Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder reiterated the administration's calls for a humanitarian pause over a ceasefire.
We do not support a ceasefire, in that gives time for Hamas to regroup which is something that again, would put Israeli citizens and others in danger," he said. "You have heard however, the president say that the U.S. government does support humanitarian pauses to enable humanitarian aid to get in, for hostages to get out as well as other citizens."
"So in the [Defense] Secretary's discussion with his counterparts, ensuring that innocent civilians in Gaza are able to get humanitarian assistance, whether that be water fuel, medical aid ... that continues to be something that we continue to emphasize regularly," Ryder added.
Ryder added that the U.S. continues to speak to Israel about the importance of safeguarding civilian lives in its operations in Gaza, which includes the principle of proportionality, while acknowledging that Israel has a right to self-defense and is dealing with an existential threat.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez