Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he warned Israeli authorities not to repeat the extent of damage and displacement imposed on the northern Gaza Strip as they plan a fresh offensive to eliminate Hamas. "I emphasized the importance of not repeating the massive loss of civilian life and displacement that we saw in northern Gaza," Blinken said during a press conference after meeting prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Israel and Hamas are amid a seven-day truce that has resulted in the release of scores of hostages and inmates on both sides. israel is reported to be prepared to extend its military assault into Gaza's south in order to destroy Hamas, which the US and the european union have designated as a terrorist organisation in the aftermath of the group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Blinken said israel has agreed to the US demand to design a strategy that "puts a premium on protecting civilians," adding that the country's military, which he described as "one of the most sophisticated in the world," must avoid causing damage to essential infrastructure.

The remarks signalled a significant shift in tone by the Biden administration, as officials become increasingly concerned about the damage caused on northern Gaza by Israel's operation to remove Hamas in the weeks after it commenced its campaign to eradicate Hamas. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health officials, more than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the conflict began.
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SIBY JEYYA

01/12/2023 05:53 AM