U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged Israeli leaders to avoid harming civilians as it presses its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and told them the creation of a Palestinian state was key to a long-term solution.
Blinken was making his fourth visit to the Middle East since the war between Hamas and Israel erupted in October.
Even as he spoke, fighting was intense in south and central parts of the enclave. Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants also exchanged fire on the Lebanon-Israel border.
International concern has mounted over the huge Palestinian death toll from the Israeli assault on
