Dozens reported killed in Gaza as Blinken urges protection for civilians
US diplomat Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel for talks, as reports suggest dozens have been killed in Gaza in recent hours.
The Hamas-run health ministry said 57 deaths were reported in one central Gaza hospital alone. More deaths have been reported in the north of the Strip.
Israel says it targeted Hamas sites across Gaza by air and sea in the past 24 hours.
In Khan Younis in the south, Israel says it “eliminated 40 terrorists,” and claims to have found Hamas tunnels and weapons.
Meanwhile, after meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Blinken’s team says he “emphasised the need to take all feasible precautions to minimise harm to civilians”
The current Gaza death toll is more than 20,000 people.