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Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need for increased efforts to safeguard civilians in Gaza amid the ongoing war.

Speaking in New Delhi, Blinken noted that “far too many” Palestinians have suffered in the clashes between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The White House recently announced that Israel agreed to implement daily four-hour pauses in their Gaza operations, allowing civilians to evacuate from conflict zones and access essential supplies.

These pauses, according to Blinken, “will save lives and will enable more assistance to get to Palestinians in need.” Despite acknowledging the potential benefits of these operational pauses, Blinken stressed that “much more needs to be done to protect civilians and to make sure that humanitarian assistance reaches them.” He highlighted the significant toll the conflict has taken on Palestinian lives and well-being.

In a briefing, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby detailed Israel’s commitment to these pauses, which will be announced three hours in advance. An Israeli official said the primary goal of these pauses is to facilitate movement towards safer areas in the south, as well as to access food and medicine.