Live updates | Blinken says more needs to be done to save Palestinian lives and for more aid

The current situation in the Israel-Hamas conflict involves ongoing hostilities, with significant damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, including hospitals. There are international calls for investigations into the conflict.

Antony Blinken has emphasized the need for Israel to take steps to minimize civilian harm, such as creating safe corridors for Palestinians. The U.S. is also proposing longer humanitarian pauses and increased aid to Gaza.

The World Health Organization reports that a significant number of Gaza’s hospitals are no longer functioning due to the conflict, including a children’s hospital. This has led to challenges in providing medical care to the wounded.

Yes, there are international efforts, with Albania proposing a plan at the Paris Peace Forum to end the conflict. Turkey has also called for an increase in the number of aid trucks entering Gaza daily.

The United Nations has expressed concerns about Israel’s actions in densely populated areas in Gaza, calling for an investigation into what it considers ‘indiscriminate’ bombardment and shelling. The UN emphasizes the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Hospitals in Gaza are facing repeated targeting, endangering the lives of patients, staff, and displaced individuals. Authorities have appealed for international presence to protect these hospitals and facilitate medical evacuations.

Francesca Albanese, the U.N. Special Rapporteur, views the four-hour daily humanitarian pause as cynical and cruel, given the continuous bombings and destruction in Gaza. She believes it offers only a brief respite before further bombardments occur.