U.S. Secretary of State and UN Human Rights Chief Express Concern over Palestinian Deaths in Israeli-Hamas War

Accident – Death – Obituary News : U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern over the number of Palestinian deaths and called for more action to save lives and provide aid where it is most needed. Speaking in New Delhi on Friday, Blinken acknowledged Israel’s efforts to minimize civilian casualties but emphasized that more needs to be done. He revealed that the U.S. has proposed additional ideas to Israel, including longer “humanitarian pauses” and increasing the amount of assistance entering Gaza.

Blinken’s remarks came as United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk called for an investigation into what he described as Israel’s “indiscriminate” bombardment and shelling in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip. Turk urged Israel to cease using such methods of warfare, stating that the high number of civilian casualties raises concerns about disproportionate attacks in violation of international humanitarian law.

The Israeli military has been pushing deeper into urban neighborhoods in its battle against Hamas militants, leading to an increasing number of civilians fleeing south. Many have sought refuge in hospitals, hoping it will be safer than their homes or UN shelters in the north. Gaza’s largest city has become the focus of Israel’s campaign to crush Hamas following an incursion in southern Israel in October.

According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, over 10,800 Palestinians have been killed in the war, including more than 4,400 children. In the occupied West Bank, more than 160 Palestinians have been killed, and over 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly in Hamas attacks. Additionally, the militant group has taken around 240 hostages from Israel into Gaza.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group has reported the deaths of seven of its fighters, though it did not specify the location. However, a Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security official revealed that the fighters were killed in neighboring Syria. Hezbollah has been fighting alongside Syrian government forces in Syria’s ongoing conflict, which has lasted 12 years.

In another development, the Israeli military announced that it arrested 41 Palestinians in a raid in the occupied West Bank. It stated that 14 of those arrested were militants and that the homes of two militants responsible for an attack in August were destroyed. Israeli forces also sealed a shop in Hebron used for printing “incendiary material for Hamas” and confiscated weapons from three West Bank refugee camps.

The United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has expressed concern about the spillover of the Israel-Hamas war, stating that it has caused significant damage in Lebanon. Clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the border have led to escalating tensions, with alarming attacks killing and injuring civilians in South Lebanon. Riza emphasized the need to investigate the attacks and called for an end to such methods of warfare.

In conclusion, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk have called for more action to protect civilians and provide aid to Palestinians in need. The Israeli military’s ongoing offensive against Hamas has resulted in a significant number of Palestinian deaths, with concerns raised about the disproportionate attacks and indiscriminate bombing. The situation has also led to clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border and escalating tensions, causing damage and displacement in Lebanon. Efforts are underway to address the humanitarian crisis and implement measures to protect civilians and provide necessary assistance..