Israel under pressure to let more aid into Gaza as hostage talks continue

Antony Blinken holds two-hour meeting with Netanyahu while Hamas considers ceasefire proposal

Israel’s leaders were under renewed pressure to allow more aid into Gaza on Wednesday after the US secretary of state Antony Blinken told Benjamin Netanyahu to “accelerate and sustain improvements” during recent days in the amount of humanitarian assistance reaching the territory.

Humanitarian agencies say that though the number of lorries entering Gaza after being vetted by Israel has increased significantly, these deliver only a fraction of what is needed.