Blinken Critical Of Israel’s Operation In South Gaza

The Israeli army has done nothing to avoid civilian casualties since the truce ended and it began its operation in the south

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on 7 December that there remains a gap between Israel’s “intent” to protect civilians and the staggering death toll Gaza faces.

"As we stand here almost a week into this campaign into the south ... it remains imperative that Israel put a premium on civilian protection. And there does remain a gap between, exactly what I said when I was there, the intent to protect civilians and the actual results that we're seeing on the ground," Blinken said.

Washington said more than once throughout the truce and in the leadup to its expiry that a repetition of the damage and casualties inflicted on north Gaza cannot take place in the south.

US officials went as far as to say that Israel has been receptive to their advice on avoiding the same tactics used in north Gaza.

"So, this is something that we're talking about with the Israelis on a regular basis, including, as recently as today and including in the president's conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier today," Blinken added.

US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 7 December.

During the call, Biden stressed “the critical need to protect civilians and to separate the civilian population from Hamas, including through corridors that allow people to move safely from defined areas of hostilities.”

However, the death toll in Gaza remains on the rise. Remaining hospitals in the south, where ground operations are now focused, are on the brink of collapse, and UN officials have denounced the safety corridors published by Israel as unreliable.

🔗Source: The Cradle

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