Blinken steps up call for Israel to spare civilians in strongest remarks yet

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has clearly laid out benchmarks for the protection of civilians in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

In the strongest and most specific US remarks yet, Mr Blinken said he’d told the Israeli government that it must avoid further mass displacement of Palestinians and damage to critical infrastructure, like hospitals, power stations and water facilities.

He did not, however, appear to set down red lines that would trigger US actions.

The secretary of state travelled to Israel to deliver the message – his fourth visit since the conflict began – at a time when hostilities have been paused by a deal to release hostages captured by Hamas.

Mr Blinken accepted that Israel planned to resume its military operation, but he also “underscored the imperative for the United States that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south”.