- It comes as the World Health Organisation’s executive board called an emergency session to discuss the health crisis in Gaza and the West Bank
The U.S. has issued its first public rebuke of Israel in its war in Gaza with White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, saying “too many innocent civilians have died in Gaza.”
The US official, who has been speaking to reporters, says the White House was having daily conversations with Israel on protecting civilians in Gaza.
He says the US expects Israel to avoid attacking areas that Israeli authorities have identified as “no-strike” zones in Gaza.
“They have also indicated that there are areas where there will be ‘no-strike’ zones. And in those zones, we do expect Israel to follow through on not striking,” Mr Sullivan says.
This is just as UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder has issued an emotional appeal on behalf of children in Gaza.
“I feel like I am running out of ways to describe the horrors hitting children here,” he says in a video posted online.
“I feel like I’m almost failing in my ability to convey the endless killing of children here. And so perhaps if the world could see those at risk. Meet Khaled and Hannah.”
The camera then shows two newborn babies.
“Please, meet them, see them,” he says.
“And pray that they are alive in a few days time.”
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says 70% of the 15,899 Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks since 7 October have been women and children.
And the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it has received notification from the IDF that it should remove supplies from its medical warehouse within 24 hours.
In a statement this evening, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said they had been told ground operations will put its warehouse “beyond use”.
“We appeal to Israel to withdraw the order, and take every possible measure to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and humanitarian facilities,” he said.
The Israeli military has also renewed its calls for mass evacuations from the Southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent weeks.
The expanded offensive, following the collapse of a week-long ceasefire, is aimed at eliminating Hamas.
But the mounting toll from the fighting, which Palestinian health officials say has killed several hundred civilians since the truce ended on Friday, further increases pressure to return to the negotiating table.
