In Israel, Blinken to reassert need to minimise Palestinian civilian casualties 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visit to Israel on Friday will not just be to voice his solidarity with its retaliation against Hamas in Gaza, but will also reassert the need to minimise Palestinian civilian casualties. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as other senior officials and receive an update on Israel’s military objectives and its plans to achieve those goals. Blinken’s trip, which includes a stop in Jordan, is his second to West Asia in less than a month. “He will reiterate US support for Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law, and discuss the need to take all precautions to minimize civilian casualties, as well as our work to deliver humanitarian assistance,” Miller told reporters. After weeks of air and artillery strikes, Israel last week began to retaliate for the unprecedented Hamas attack by sending ground forces in Gaza. Israel says 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 240 were taken hostage in October 7 Hamas’ onslaught. The Gaza health ministry says at least 8,796 Palestinians in the narrow coastal enclave, including 3,648 children, have been killed by Israeli strikes since October 7. Blinken will also discuss options on who will run the densely populated enclave if and when Hamas is defeated. On Wednesday, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Washington did not believe Hamas could be involved in governing Gaza when the war is over. In Jordan, Blinken will underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives and reiterate a US commitment to ensure Palestinians are not forcibly displaced out of Gaza, a growing concern of the Arab world, Miller said. He will pursue talks led by Egypt and Qatar on securing the release of more than 200 hostages held by Hamas, Miller said. Turkish diplomatic sources said Blinken would also visit Turkey but Miller did not confirm the additional stop. “We will make further announcements as they’re available in the coming days,” he added. Blinken’s last trip to the region that kicked off on October 11 was initially announced as a visit to Israel and Jordan but was later expanded to include five more Arab countries, ending up being his most extensive yet trip to the region. Additional stops were often announced within short notice during the week-long whirlwind journey. With inputs from Reuters