Blinken insists Israel have a plan to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza once fighting resumes

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives to meet with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Thursday, Blinken is reminding Israeli leaders of the need for Israel to comply with international law as it prosecutes it war against Hamas in Gaza. (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Israel to take extra measures to ensure minimal civilian casualties and their protection when it resumes fighting against Hamas.  

On Thursday, Blinken said the Biden administration was calling for Israel to put plans in place to reduce harm to civilians before conducting military operations in southern Gaza. 

“The way Israel defends itself matters,” he said during a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. “As I told the prime minister, intent matters, but so do results.” 

Blinken didn’t elaborate or disclose whether Israeli leaders made any guarantees once military operations resume. He said he urged Israel to let Gazans who fled south to be allowed to return to the northern part of the territory once conditions permit it so.  

“We know that every one of these elements is made more complicated by the fact that Hamas intentionally embeds itself with civilians,” Blinken said.  

The secretary noted that Hamas could end the fighting by releasing all the hostages and turning over its leaders who planned the Oct. 7 attack on Israel communities.  

He also called on the terror group to stop using civilians as “human shields” and said it can’t be allowed to retain control and governance over Gaza once the fighting stops.  

The terror group’s intentions were made clear, he said, during Thursday morning’s shooting at a Jerusalem bus stop that killed three people and injured 11 others, he said.  

Blinken said Israel is capable of targeting Hamas while minimizing harm to civilians.  

“It has an obligation to do so. Ultimately, that's not just the right thing to do. It's also in Israel's security interest,” Blinken said. “The prime minister, and members of the war cabinet agreed with the need for this approach." 

"We discussed the details of Israel's ongoing planning, and I underscore the imperative of the United States that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza, not be repeated in the South, as I told the Prime Minister intent matters, but so does the result,” he added.