U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken advocates for measures to reduce Gaza civilian casualties

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel on a mission focused on addressing civilian harm in the Gaza conflict. Prior to his departure, Blinken expressed his intention to seek “concrete steps” from Israel to minimize harm to Palestinian civilians, echoing similar calls from US President Joe Biden for humanitarian pauses in the ongoing conflict.

This visit marks Blinken’s second trip to the Middle East since the eruption of fighting on October 7, triggered by a massive attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Israel. Israeli officials report that the attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,400 people, the majority of whom were civilians.

In retaliation, Israeli strikes targeted Hamas facilities in the Gaza Strip, resulting in a reported death toll of over 9,000 individuals, including more than 3,700 children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters before departing for Israel, Blinken emphasized the need to discuss tangible actions that can be taken to minimize harm to men, women, and children in Gaza. He stated, “This is something that the United States is committed to.”

Biden, while pledging full support and increased military aid to Israel for its campaign in Gaza, has also shown empathy for the suffering of Palestinians, marking a noticeable shift in tone that has generated international attention and reactions. “I think we need a pause,” Biden stated, and the US National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, later clarified that a “humanitarian pause” would be temporary, localized, and focused on specific humanitarian objectives, which may involve the provision of aid and the safe evacuation of people from affected areas.