The United States said Wednesday that Hamas’ demands were thwarting its push for a cease-fire with Israel, signaling the fighting would go on as the United Nations accused both sides of war crimes and Hezbollah unleashed a rocket barrage to avenge a top commander's killing that threatened wider escalation.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Palestinian militant group had requested "numerous" changes to the Washington-backed plan to end fighting in the Gaza Strip and release hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7.

"Some of those are workable changes, some are not," Blinken said in Qatar, speaking on his latest round of shuttle diplomacy to try and advance a deal that neither warring party has fully embraced.

Giving the briefing hours after Hamas delivered its formal response, he said that Washington would keep working with meditators to try and secure an agreement.