An Israeli flag flies atop a building amid the destruction in northern Gaza (Sky)

UPDATE, NOV 20:

I spoke on India’s WION News on Sunday about the ongoing situation around Israel’s deadly attacks in Gaza, Hamas’s holding of about 240 hostages, and international pressure for a “humanitarian pause”.

I begin by assessing reports that a deal may be close for Hamas to release up to 70 hostages in return for a 5-day pause to allow aid into Gaza, where more than 13,000 people have been killed since October 7.

I urge caution, noting that the outcome is up to an Israeli War Cabinet which may now be split between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, the former head of the Israeli military.

And even if there is a pause, Israel’s leaders may soon return to their mass killing across all of the Gaza Strip.

ORIGINAL ENTRY, NOV 17: I joined The Pat Kenny Show on Dublin NewsTalk on Thursday to consider international pressure on Israel’s leaders to pause their mass killing in Gaza — and why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his War Cabinet are unlikely to halt the bombing and ground assault to “destroy Hamas”.

I evaluate the UN Security Council’s vote for a “humanitarian pause”, and then the ongoing Israeli operations such as the siege and raid of al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility.

We also discuss the positive outcome from Wednesday’s meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in San Francisco.

See also EA on BBC: A Productive Biden-Xi Meeting