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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a meeting with the Israeli president in Tel Aviv on November 30, 2023, following the announcement of an extenstion of the truce between Israel and Hamas just before it was due to expire. The announcement came hours after Blinken's arrival in Israel with growing pressure for an extension of the pause. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP)
Visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday, emphasised the need to protect civilians in southern Gaza, where many have fled, the State Department said.
Blinken "stressed the imperative of accounting for humanitarian and civilian protection needs in southern Gaza before any military operations there", State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement, adding he "urged Israel to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm".