Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again rejected growing calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, where the Palestinian death toll in Israeli attacks has crossed 10,000.
"A cease-fire would be a surrender to Hamas, it would be a victory to Hamas," Netanyahu told ABC news in an interview broadcast on Monday night.
"Well, there'll be no cease-fire, general cease-fire, in Gaza without the release of our hostages," he said when asked about a possibility of a humanitarian pause.
"As far as tactical little pauses, an hour here, an hour there. We've had them before, I suppose, will check the circumstances in order to enable goods, humanitarian goods to come in, or our hostages, individual hostages to leave. But I don't think there's going to be a general cease-fire," the Israeli premier said.
He claimed that a truce "will hamper the war efforts" and his government efforts to get out hostages from Gaza.
Palestinian group Hamas, which carried out a cross border attack a month ago, says it holds in captivity more than 200 people, including Israeli soldiers and civilians. Israel has launched relentless air, and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since then.
At least 10,022 Palestinians, including 4,104 children and 2,641 women, have been killed in the enclave since then. Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.
UN chief Antonio Guterres in a statement on Monday said, "Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children" as hundreds of girls and boys are being killed or injured every day.
He reiterated his call for a humanitarian cease-fire, more aid for Gaza, unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas, and protection of civilians, hospitals, UN facilities, shelters and schools.
