US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Israel to establish 'safe' civilian zones in southern and central Gaza.
During a press conference in Tel Aviv, Blinken called for an extension of the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He stressed that humanitarian protection plans need to be put in place to minimise the deaths of innocent Palestinians.
According to Blinken, ensuring the safety of civilians requires taking more effective protective steps, such as creating clear areas in southern and central Gaza where civilians can be safe and away from the frontlines.
Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday.
The ceasefire which began on 24 November was set to end theoretically on Saturday at 07:00 am but could be extended for more hostage-prisoner releases. However, fighting erupted on Friday morning with rocket fire from Gaza after the talks on the list of hostages to be released on Friday failed. Israel returned the rocket fire with air strikes.
Israel accused Hamas of having violated its obligation to release all women taken hostages. Talks to restore the humanitarian pause continue but the prospects of extending it are reported to be low.
The Israeli government announced that it is committed to achieving the goals of the war - releasing all hostages, eliminating Hamas and ensuring that Gaza never again threaten Israel.
This painstakingly negotiated humanitarian pause, mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar, gave much-needed respite to Gaza’s inhabitants, who had been under relentless attack since Hamas’s deadly assault on Israeli soil on 7 October.
The terrorist attack resulted in 1,200 deaths, most of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities. Israeli military operations have killed over 15,000 people, including more than 6,100 children and teenagers, according to the Hamas-run health-ministry.
The article has been updated.
