蜜芽传媒

In its continuing war against the Hamas group in the Gaza strip, Israel has reiterated its call for civilians to flee the centre of the southern city Khan Younis, while its ground operation there advances.

As the humanitarian situation in the strip worsens, international calls for another pause in fighting are not going away. The Hamas-run health ministry says 18.000 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began.

Since the attacks on Israel on 7 October, in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 abducted by Hamas - which many western governments regard as a terrorist group - the United States has stood with Israel.

But Washington's initial unqualified support has more recently - as the death toll has risen - started to come with more demands on how Israel conducts its war. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has made America's expectations public, as Newsday heard from Nathaniel Tek who is the Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State.

"There is more that can be down by Israel to ensure the protection of civilians. Hamas has been using civilians as human shields. We believe it is a moral and strategic imperative that Israel... protects civilians and works towards a more enduring peace."

"We do not support Israel reoccupying Gaza militarily... [or permanent] forced displacement of civilians from Gaza. We are still firmly committed to a two-state solution - two states living peacefully side-by-side."

(Pic: Israeli soldiers operate at the Shajaiya district of Gaza city in the war with Hamas; Credit: Reuters)

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