The deadly strikes have sparked anger among human rights groups and Arab countries, raising questions about war crimes and about Israel’s military strategy.

💡A pause is temporary and localized to help civilians and foreign nationals leave or receive aid. A cease-fire is an agreement on both sides to stop fighting and negotiate. NewsNation has a helpful explainer if you want more details.

President Biden called for a pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas to allow “time to get the prisoners out.”

In what context?: A heckler confronted Biden at a 200-person fundraiser Wednesday, calling for a cease-fire.

Biden also told the heckler: “I’m the guy that convinced Bibi to call for a cease-fire to let the prisoners out. I’m the guy that talked to Sisi to convince him to open the door,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, respectively.

But let’s be clear — that’s not a cease-fire: The White House says it would consider supporting a “pause” for humanitarian aid, but it has resisted pressure from progressives to support a cease-fire.

14 Senate Democrats are calling for a short-term ‘cessation of hostilities’ to provide humanitarian aid for civilians.

Who?: Sens. Tim Kaine (Va.), Mark Warner (Va.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Peter Welch (Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Chris Murphy (Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Tina Smith (Minn.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.).

Their reasoning: “The failure to adequately protect non-combatant civilians risks dramatic escalation of the conflict in the region and imposes severe damage on prospects for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.” Read the full statement

Have any of these senators called for a cease-fire?: Durbin, the second-highest ranking Democrat in the Senate, said Thursday a cease-fire might be appropriate in the Israel-Hamas war *if* all of the hostages are released. More from Durbin

18 House members have called for a cease-fire, according to NPR: NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben explains how “young progressive Democrats are splitting from the party on Israel.” More on the divide in the Democratic Party

FWIW: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “no” to any pause in fighting until Hamas releases the hostages.

🥪🍭🍩 Celebrate: We have a star lineup. Today is National Sandwich Day, Saturday is National Candy Day and Sunday is National Doughnut Day! Here’s a list of sandwich deals today (!)

🕺 The talk of TikTok: There’s a filter on TikTok that will place a dancing skeleton somewhere in your room. Some are small, some are big, but they’re all dancing to Prince and The Revolution.

• This skeleton has moves
• Oh, hello there
• Here’s another
• This skeleton was hiding
• No, THIS ONE was hiding
• Why is this skeleton so close?!
  
  

🐀 Getting traction — New York City is back, baby: @TBPInvictus posted a video of a person in a rat costume carrying a giant slice of pizza through a Subway station. “People insist on comparing other cities to NY. It’s a fool’s errand, especially around Halloween,” the caption reads. The video has 5.2 million views so far.

Writer Laura Bassett pointed out the best part: “The guy that climbs over the rail to avoid the giant pizza rat and never even glances back makes the whole thing.” I have been laughing at this all morning.

Because you made it this far, here’s a bunny with serious moves