WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with two senior Israeli officials and expressed concerns over recent deadly strikes by Israel in the Gaza Strip, said his spokesman.
The Israeli army has launched several attacks in recent days, including on a refugee camp and a UN-run school being used as a shelter, prompting Hamas to withdraw from ceasefire negotiations and diminishing prospects for a truce and hostage release deal.
Blinken met with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi “to express our serious concern about the recent civilian casualties in Gaza,” said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
On Saturday, Israeli strikes killed over 90 people in the Al-Mawasi camp near Khan Yunis, Gaza’s health ministry reported. In May, the camp had been declared a safe humanitarian zone by the Israeli military, which instructed civilians to evacuate there.
Discussions also covered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian aid for Gaza, and post-war plans, Miller added.
The visit occurred just days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the US Congress on July 24.
“We continue to hear from Israel directly that they want to reach a ceasefire and that they’re committed to the proposal they put forward,” said Miller.
The United States has firmly defended Israel’s right to self-defense, which has resulted in President Biden facing increasing political pressure regarding the plight of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s military offensive has killed at least 38,584 people, mostly civilians, since October last year, according to data from the Gaza health ministry.
