Allies Express Concerns as Civilian Casualties Mount in Israel's Fight Against Hamas

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects calls from Western allies to do more to protect Palestinian civilians, blaming Hamas for using them as human shields. The U.S. has been pushing for temporary pauses to allow aid distribution, but Israel has only agreed to brief daily periods for civilians to flee combat zones. Over 150,000 civilians have fled northern Gaza, but tens of thousands remain, seeking shelter in hospitals and overcrowded U.N. facilities. The U.S. and Israel have differing views on a post-war Gaza, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasizing principles such as no forcible displacement of Palestinians and Palestinian-led governance. Concerns grow as fighting nears hospitals, including Gaza's largest, Shifa Hospital, where thousands of civilians have sought refuge. The death toll in Gaza exceeds 11,000, while Israel reports over 1,200 deaths, mainly from an initial Hamas attack.