Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out a potential ceasefire but has said his government would consider “tactical little pauses” in fighting to allow for the entry of aid or the release of hostages from Gaza.

Israel has bombarded the enclave since Hamas’ attack on Israel one month ago, which killed 1,400 people. The Militants also took 240 people hostage.

Health officials in Gaza say the subsequent Israeli response has killed more than 10,000 people, 4,100 of which are children.

Both sides of the conflict have rejected calls for a pause in fighting. Israel insists hostages should be freed first, while Hamas says it will not release them nor stop fighting while Gaza remains under attack.

"As far as tactical little pauses - an hour here, an hour there - we've had them before. I suppose we'll check the circumstances in order to enable goods, humanitarian goods to come in, or our hostages, individual hostages, to leave," said Mr Netanyahu (ABC News).

"But I don't think there's going to be a general ceasefire."

US President Joe Biden discussed such pauses during a phone call with the Israeli leader yesterday, reiterating his support for Israel while underlining that it must protect civilians.

Both Israel and the US fear Hamas may take advantage of a full ceasefire to regroup.

Elsewhere, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been urgently calling for a halt to the fighting, warning that Gaza is becoming a "graveyard for children".

"Ground operations by the Israel Defense Forces and continued bombardment are hitting civilians, hospitals, refugee camps, mosques, churches and UN facilities – including shelters. No one is safe," he told reporters.

"At the same time, Hamas and other militants use civilians as human shields and continue to launch rockets indiscriminately towards Israel."

In Ireland, a proposal to fly the Palestinian flag over Dublin City Hall as "an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza" was recently rejected by Dublin City councillors.

The motion was raised by Councillor Cieran Perry at Monday evening’s monthly meeting, on behalf of the Independent Group of councillors.

The move was backed by Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, Labour party and the Green Party, however Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors either rejected or abstained from voting on the issue.