In statements to the "State of the Union" program on CNN, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged Israel to make more efforts to protect Palestinian civilians in its war on Gaza.

In his statements, which came two days after the United States used its veto against a draft resolution in the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire on humanitarian grounds, Blinken said that Israel must attach “importance” to protecting civilians in Gaza and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches those in need. .

Blinken added, "The important thing is to ensure that military operations are developed in a way that ensures the protection of civilians," believing that "Israel has the intention (to reduce the number of civilian casualties), but the results do not show that on their own."

Among the steps that Blinken said the United States "does not see enough of" are "times, places and ways of deconfliction" that would allow humanitarian operations to deliver aid and help keep civilians out of harm's way.

Israeli forces made their way to the center of the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, on Sunday after fierce fighting during the night, while American-made warplanes bombed areas west of the city with American missiles.

Israel pledged to eliminate Hamas after the movement's militants launched attacks on Israeli towns on October 7, killing 1,200 people and detaining 240 others, according to Israeli authorities.

Health authorities in the Gaza Strip said that about 18,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war since then, while 49,500 have been injured. Thousands more are missing, believed to have died, and are found under rubble.

The United States blocked an effort at the United Nations on Friday to impose a ceasefire, an option that American and Israeli officials believe would only benefit Hamas.

It is noteworthy that the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) said on Saturday that the administration of President Joe Biden used emergency authority to allow the sale of about 14,000 tank shells to Israel without reviewing Congress.