Israel appears to shrug off US warnings on civilians

The United States insisted to Israel this week that it come up with clear plans to minimise civilian harm in any military operation in southern Gaza, a senior US official said, as the Israeli military resumed bombardment of the enclave after a week-long truce collapsed.

Gaza health officials said yesterday Israeli airstrikes had killed 184 people, wounded at least 589 and hit more than 20 houses.

The bombing was most intense in the southern areas of Khan Younis and Rafah, medics and witnesses said. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have been sheltering there because of fighting in the north.

The bombings in the south occurred only hours after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to Jerusalem that Israel’s operations in the area should not repeat the massive loss of civilian life and displacement during its northern offensive. Israel’s government agreed that any operation in the south should not look like it did in the north and its military would designate areas where civilians would not be harmed, a senior US official said as Blinken wrapped up his visit.

However, Netanyahu and his government did not give clear assurances on avoiding civilian harm, and the official said the issue would continue to be discussed.

The official added that the US expected there would be no fullscale assault on Khan Younis and Rafah as there was on Gaza City.

Washington has urged Israel to narrow the zone of combat and clarify where Palestinian civilians can seek safety in southern Gaza.

The US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that during the current offensive, entire neighbourhoods in southern Gaza should be designated as zones that were safe for civilians, though some might still have to leave their homes if they were in areas where Hamas fighters were deeply embedded.

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas after the October 7 rampage by the militant group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1200 people and took 240 hostages.

In addition to those who planned the October 7 attacks, Israel was looking to eliminate Hamas’ battalion-level leadership, said the US official.

Israel’s assault has laid waste to much of Gaza. Palestinian health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed.