US Secretary of State Tony Blinken told his Israeli counterparts on Friday that agreeing to a humanitarian pause will help Israel buy more time for its ground offensive in Gaza, Axios reports citing one US and three Israeli officials with direct knowledge of the talks.

It further quoted the officials as saying that according to Blinken, a pause will also “help the US fend off growing pressure it is facing over its support of Israel’s operation in Gaza”.

Blinken’s message, according to one US and two Israeli officials, was:“We don’t want to stop you, but help us help you get more time.”