The local pause in fighting came days after ceasefire efforts between Israel and Hamas appeared to be in doubt.

Scores of aid groups say starvation is fast spreading in Gaza, and Israel suspended some military operations to allow the movement of relief convoys.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his government was considering “alternative options” to ceasefire talks with Hamas after it and the U.S. recalled their negotiating teams.

President Trump’s special envoy said that “we will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home,” though it was not clear that negotiations had halted.

It marks the latest setback in efforts to secure a deal that would bring a ceasefire to Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres declared that those who will not condemn Hamas over the heinous actions perpetrated on Oct. 7, 2023 "have no business" describing themselves as humanitarians.

Other Hamas and Palestinian sources said that Hamas captors have been instructed to murder any live hostages if the IDF gets close. The Hamas terrorist organization fears the possibility of a joint US-Israeli military operation to rescue hostages in the Gaza Strip,