US urges Israel to ‘take all possible measures to protect civilians’

WASHINGTON

The US on Saturday said it expects Israel to take “feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians,” including respect for protected sites like hospitals and schools, and places of worship.

“We expect Israel to act consistently with international humanitarian law, including the need to take feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians,” a State Department spokesperson said in response to Anadolu’s question on Israeli airstrikes hitting the entrance to Al-Shifa Hospital and areas surrounding al-Quds Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital on Friday.

“That includes respect for protected sites like hospitals and schools, and places of worship,” the spokesperson said.

“We continue to urge Israel to take all possible measures to protect civilians.”

The Israeli army on Friday targeted the main gate of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, according to an Anadolu correspondent at the scene.

The Israeli military said it hit ambulances, meters away from the Al-Shifa Hospital, claiming that it was used by Hamas. Hamas denied the claims.

At least 13 people were killed and 26 others injured as a result of the Israeli bombing targeting ambulances in front of the Al-Shifa Hospital, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

The strikes on or near hospitals joined a number of Israeli army attacks in recent weeks damaging or destroying civilian buildings which have drawn international outrage.

This week the Israeli army expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a surprise offensive by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Nearly 11,000 people have been killed in the conflict, including 9,488 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.