Secretary of State Blinken Says Israel Must Avoid ‘Massive Loss of Life’ When Gaza War Resumes

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that America wants an end to the "massive loss of life" in Gaza after reportedly giving Israel a deadline of just weeks to wrap up its war with the Hamas terror group.

Following a meeting with Israel's war cabinet, Blinken said the U.S. continued to support Israel's plan to eradicate Hamas to prevent a repeat of the surprise Oct. 7 attacks that killed 1,200 people, the Times of Israel reported.

But Blinken also said during a news conference in Tel Aviv that "the way Israel defends itself matters."

“We discussed the details of Israel’s ongoing planning, and I underscored the imperative, for the United States, that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza, not be repeated in the south,” he said.

More than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

Earlier Thursday, Blinken told Israel's war cabinet it had to "be more accurate" and avoid causing "massive loss of civilian life" or else stop attacking populated areas, the Times of Israel said, citing leaked comments obtained by Channel 12.

When Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the entire country was "united behind the goal of dismantling Hamas, even if it takes months," Blinken reportedly responded, "I don't think you have the credit for that."

Blinken also reportedly said, "You can’t operate in southern Gaza in the way you did in the north."

"There are two million Palestinians there. You need to evacuate fewer people from their homes, be more accurate in the attacks, not hit [United Nations] facilities and ensure that there are enough protected areas," he said.

"And if not? Then not to attack where there is a civilian population."