Tensions continue to escalate amid growing international calls for a pause in fighting. Our reporter Zhou Jiaxin has more from Tel Aviv on what's hindering the release of hostages, humanitarian aid, and a possible ceasefire. 

ZHOU JIAXIN Tel Aviv "In the past three weeks, at least 7,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes, 3,000 of them children. Having ordered an evacuation in northern Gaza, authorities here in Israel say they doubt the death toll provided by the Gaza Health Ministry, accusing Hamas, the armed Palestinian group that governs the strip, of using civilians as 'human shields'. Israel declared war on Hamas after calling their surprise attack on October 7 a terrorist massacre – some 1,400 people were killed, and more than 200 held captive in Gaza. The two main objectives for an ever-united Israel in this war-to eliminate Hamas and save the hostages, a serious logistical challenge with stakes that couldn't be higher. In downtown Tel Aviv, growing discontent from family and friends of the hostages, whose situation is believed to be one of the factors delaying Israel's ground invasion into Gaza."

ZHOU JIAXIN Tel Aviv "What's the key message you've found from your friends here?"

RIHANA ALBAG Cousin of Hostage Held by Hamas "That's we need him (Netanyahu) here now. Without negations, then nothing. There're (more than) 200. We must bring them home now before we start everything!"

Then, a sliver of hope. Another pair of Israeli hostages released, as the ground offensive is now pushed back.

ZHOU JIAXIN Tel Aviv "Would that (hostage issue) stop the invasion?"

ITZHAK SEGEV Ex-Israeli Military Governor of Gaza "No, no, no. More than this. Hostages will not stop. There is only very small minority of against the war, but more than 90 percent of Israelis now want war to demolish Hamas."

"We have to engage negotiations; we have to do it now. They said the only solution is to destroy and flatten Gaza. They've never mentioned the hostages, never."

Neither is an immediate ceasefire on the Israeli war cabinet's agenda. Even as the UN describes the situation in Gaza as a humanitarian catastrophe, and warns against the "collective punishment" of the Palestinian people.

ELDAD SHAVIT Senior Researcher, Institute for National Security Studies "This mission would hit problems, it would be criticism. Meanwhile, I don't see any daylight between Israelis and government concerning the mission of eliminating Hamas. Israelis are now ready to pay a price."

A price has been paid by both side for decades, and the currency is rising distrust and conflict. But what's recently angered Israeli officials is the UN chief saying Hamas' attack on Israel did not, QUOTE, "happen in a vacuum."

ANTONIO GUTERRES Secretary General, United Nations "The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation. They have seen their land steadily devoured by settlements and plagued by violence, their economy stifled, their people displaced and homes demolished."

ZHOU JIAXIN Sderot, Israel "Rockets fired from Gaza are not strange to Israelis, especially here in so-called bomb-shelter capital Sderot, as well as other border cities. Towns are now empty as the world watches a shrinking window of opportunity closed for the release of hostages, humanitarian relief, and a ceasefire. Zhou Jiaxin, CGTN, Sderot in Israel."