Israel-Gaza updates: IDF says 3,500 'terror targets' hammered in 10 days

During President Joe Biden's call Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the president noted that "it was Hamas’s refusal to release young women civilian hostages that led to" the end of the multiday cease-fire, according to a White House readout of the leaders' call.

Biden "reiterated that the [International Committee of the Red Cross] must be permitted to access remaining hostages held by Hamas terrorists," the White House said, and Biden and Netanyahu "agreed to remain deeply engaged to pursue every possible opportunity to free the remaining hostages."

Biden also stressed the importance of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Biden "welcomed the recent Israeli decision to ensure that fuel levels will meet requisite needs, but stressed that much more assistance was urgently required across the board," the White House said.

Biden again noted the need to separate civilians in Gaza from Hamas, the White House said, and the president reiterated his concern about the "extremist violence committed against Palestinians and the need to increase stability in the West Bank."

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said he could not confirm reports that Hamas has sexually assaulted hostages, but he said the reports are "believable."

"I can't confirm these individual reports and stories," Kirby said, calling them "horrific."

"Sadly, because of who we're dealing with, we certainly aren't in a position to disabuse these reports," Kirby continued. "And the truth is, they're believable, just on the face of it, because of who these guys are, and what they believe. And because we have heard other accounts from other survivors that have come back and other hostages."

According to Israeli officials, 138 people are still being held hostage by Hamas. Over 100 women and children have been released.

"We know that Hamas is holding some additional women and children," Kirby said. "Let's get the remaining women and children out and get them out from under the jackboot of Hamas and potential sexual violence."

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told ABC News on Thursday that involved parties are "not close" to a deal for additional pauses to secure the release of hostages.

"Talks are still ongoing, discussions are happening. … I wish I had specific progress to speak to -- I don't," Kirby said.

"We're not close to inking another deal on a humanitarian pause," he said, "nor do I have any news to break here today about the return of hostages."

"We’re still trying to get as much information as we can about the hostages being held," Kirby said. "We have some information, as I said before on some of the hostages, because their families are talking to us, and that's been a terrific source of information and context."

"We have less information on others," Kirby added. "But not for lack of trying."

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

There are "some promising signs" in the negotiations to open the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel into Gaza for humanitarian access, according to Martin Griffiths, the United Nation's under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.

"There are promising signs now that that may be able to open soon," Griffiths said. "If we get that, well, it would be the first miracle we've seen for some weeks, but it would be a huge boost to the logistical process and logistical base of a humanitarian operation. It doesn’t mean to say that it will solve the security problems … but it will change the nature of humanitarian access."

Aid trucks are still crossing daily through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza as Gaza's humanitarian crises worsens, Griffiths said, but many roads along that route have been destroyed, making access difficult.