US reaction: Diplomatic officials traveling across the Middle East on Saturday said progress had been made in persuading Israel to enter into a humanitarian pause in fighting, but there was still much work to be done. A senior US official said pressure on Hamas to release hostages was a key issue in talks with Israel, which could be linked to a longer-term ceasefire.
Help: United Nations officials are increasing pressure on Israel to temporarily halt its attack on the Gaza Strip as the largest humanitarian aid agency in the enclave nears collapse.
Ceasefire calls: Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Washington, DC on Saturday, increasing international pressure for a halt to the fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said attacks on Gaza would continue until Hamas released all hostages captured in the Oct. 7 attacks.
Losses: Israel said 24 soldiers have been killed in Gaza and elsewhere since ground operations began in the enclave. Hamas-controlled health authorities in the Gaza Strip said more than 9,400 people were killed, most of them women and children. They do not differentiate between militants and civilians. More than 1,400 people in Israel died in the attacks that sparked the war, including over 300 Israel Defense Forces soldiers, Israeli officials said.