Blinken raises concern over recent civilian casualties in Gaza during meeting with top Israeli officials

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns about recent civilian killings in Israeli attacks in Gaza during a meeting with Israeli national security officials, according to the State Department.

Blinken met with Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi earlier on Monday and expressed "serious concern" about the recent civilian casualties in Gaza, Spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

Miller said that although civilian casualties have "come down" from the high points of the Israeli war on Gaza, they still remain "unacceptably high."

"We continue to see far too many civilians killed in this conflict. We want to see civilian casualties completely ended," he said, adding that this is why US is "pushing so hard" for a cease-fire agreement.

On the Israeli attack on a UN-run school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, Miller said Israel has claimed that they were targeting "militants" who were inside the site.

"They do have the right to target militants," he said.

When asked by Anadolu if targeting Hamas justifies the killing of civilians, Miller responded: "No, of course, it does not justify any attacks on civilians."

Asked if Israel has actually killed Hamas officials in the recent attacks, he responded: "They do not have certainty."

Meanwhile, the death toll from Israeli bombardment of the UN-run school sheltering displaced Palestinians in the central Gaza Strip rose to 22, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Monday.

At least 102 other people were injured in the attack that targeted the Abu Oreiban School run by the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in the Nuseirat refugee camp on Sunday, the ministry added in a statement.

According to witnesses, several children and women were among the victims.

The Israeli army acknowledged the attack, claiming that the school served as a hideout and operational infrastructure for attacks against its forces.