US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has underlined the US position calling for humanitarian pauses to help civilians in Gaza, saying that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas.

After visiting Israel, Blinken met his Arab counterparts, including ones from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in Jordan on Saturday.

After the meeting, Blinken gave a news conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

Blinken told reporters that they talked about humanitarian aid and ways to prevent the fighting from spilling over to other areas.

Safadi and Shoukry said that an immediate ceasefire is needed to protect civilians.

But Blinken reaffirmed US support for Israel's right to defend itself.

He disagreed with his Arab counterparts, saying that "A ceasefire now would simply leave Hamas in place, able to regroup and repeat what it did on October 7."

He added that he shares the concern about the plight of civilians in Gaza. He expressed his willingness to continue trying to persuade Israel to take humanitarian pauses to allow aid supplies to be brought in and let civilians evacuate.