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The United States has rejected global pleas for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, stating that it is not the appropriate solution at the moment. The US National Security spokesperson, John Kirby, proposed the idea of "pauses" instead, to allow aid to be delivered to Gaza. Currently, Gaza's 2.2 million residents are facing severe shortages of essential supplies such as food, water, fuel, and medicine. Despite international pressure, Israel has declared that there will be no ceasefire until Hamas is dismantled. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that calls for a ceasefire are effectively demands for Israel to surrender to terrorism, which they will not do. Kirby expressed confidence that more aid trucks would be able to enter Gaza through Egypt, as the US had discussed increasing the number with the Israeli government. However, he acknowledged that the current rate of aid delivery is still insufficient. Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the UN relief agency UNRWA, previously stated that approximately 500 trucks per day used to enter Gaza before the conflict started. Israel initiated the bombings on Gaza after Hamas attacks on 7 October resulted in the death of 1,400 people in Israel and 229 individuals being taken hostage by Hamas. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 8,300 people in Gaza have been killed since Israel's retaliatory bombings began. Recently, one of the hostages, Natalie Raanan, returned to Chicago, according to Israel's consul general to the Midwest, Yinam Cohen. The UN General Assembly had previously called for an immediate humanitarian truce, which was dismissed by Israel. Mr. Lazzarini emphasized that the aid system would not succeed unless there is the necessary political will to address the tremendous humanitarian needs. Israel has now entered what Netanyahu referred to as the "second stage" of the war aimed at destroying Hamas, with ground forces expanding their operations in Gaza after three weeks of intense bombardment.