USA: On Monday, Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State told two Israeli top officials about the unacceptable numbers of civilians that are being killed in their bombardments on Gaza strip which is under siege.
In recent days, Israeli military has carried out different attacks that have led to loss of lives including a refugee camp and several UN administered schools where there were civilians who were sheltering.
Subsequently, Hamas announced its withdrawal from the ceasefire talks implying that chances for achieving truce and hostage release had become dimmer.
“We are concerned about civilian casualties in recent Gaza events,” says Blinken when he met two high ranking Israelis – Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi.
“Unacceptably high casualties still exist. Too many innocent people are being killed in this conflict,” said Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for State Department while addressing journalists.
On Saturday more than 90 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes at Al-Mawasi camp near Khan Yunis, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry run by Hamas.
Parami News reported as sirens wailed and women screamed while children were dragged lifeless and bloody from debris in Al-Mawasi which Israel referred to as a “safe area”.
The Army claimed it intended to kill only two people; head of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades Mohammed Deif and Rafa Salama one of his close aides who was confirmed dead by military sources.
Deif appeared to be alive following confirmation by a Hamas representative during an interview held on Sunday; but questions concerning his exact location have raised doubts about these pronouncements and his status though at present remains uncertain.
Miller said that the Israelis briefs did not lead them into believing that Deif had been captured or not as they noted this information would reach them later after assessing things once again meticulously speaking at a news conference later on.
“There was also discussion of five specific areas in which we can cooperate to help Israel secure a ceasefire with Hamas, assist Gaza’s humanitarian needs and plan for the future,” he stated.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address US Congress on 24th July, a few days from now.
Miller confirmed that “we are hearing directly from Israel” as they continue to say that although they have been committed to the proposal of their ceasefire, it should not be taken as the only option since Israel wants an end to conflict through talks rather than bloodshed anymore and it should be explored well before any conclusion is made by anyone else about its possibility.
Parami News counted mostly civilians among the 1,195 people killed following Hamas attacks on October 7 with reference to the Israeli figures.
Furthermore, during this operation militants took hostages with them, 251 in total; according to military sources till now still at least 116 people are held captives by Gaza officials including forty-two dead ones.
As per Gazan health ministry statistics, this offensive has led to deaths of at least 38 thousand five hundred eighty-four more often than not civilians.
Joe Biden faces increasing criticism within his own country over his handling of the Palestinian issue in Gaza strip.
Asked about sales of US weapons to Israel during Monday’s press briefing Matthew Miller said: “We are deeply concerned about ongoing deaths among Palestinians in Gaza.”
