Blinken Urges Action to Protect Palestinians Amid Gaza Conflict

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned the civilian death toll in Gaza and called for more efforts to minimize harm to Palestinian civilians. While commending Israel for its military pauses and evacuation corridors, Blinken emphasized the need for additional steps to protect civilians. He reiterated the US' support for Israel's right to defend itself but expressed concern over the high number of Palestinian casualties. Blinken outlined the US' terms for a durable peace in Gaza, including no forcible displacement of Palestinians, no use of Gaza for launching attacks, and a commitment to Palestinian land governance. Concrete plans are being developed to increase humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, but implementation remains a challenge. The US continues to focus on hostage release and preventing the conflict from escalating.