DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel’s government is facing local protests and calls for a cease-fire from some of its closest European allies. A series of shootings, including of three hostages who were waving a white flag, have added to mounting concerns about its wartime conduct. Israel could come under further pressure to scale back major combat operations when U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits this week. Gaza remained under a communications blackout for a fourth straight day on Sunday, the longest of the war. Aid groups say such outages complicate rescue efforts after bombings and make it even more difficult to monitor the war’s toll on civilians.