Blinken says made clear Israel needs to put in place protections for civilians

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday he made clear to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that before Israel starts its operations in southern Gaza it has to put in place protections for civilians, adding that the Israeli government agreed with the need for that. "Israel has ... And it has an obligation to do so," Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday he made clear to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that before Israel starts its operations in southern Gaza it has to put in place protections for civilians, adding that the Israeli government agreed with the need for that.

"Israel has ... one of the most sophisticated militaries in the world. It is capable of neutralizing the threat posed by Hamas while minimizing harm to innocent men, women and children. And it has an obligation to do so," Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.