Israel is facing mounting international pressure – including from its main ally – to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
The number of people killed in the Gaza Strip in the past five weeks now stands above 11,000, according to health officials in the territory.
Israeli forces have been waging war on Hamas militants who carried out a deadly rampage in southern Israel on 7 October.
Israel initially said more than 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attack but the figure has since been revised down to around 1,200.
Follow latest: ‘Thousands’ flee Gaza’s largest hospital after ‘intense violence’ nearby
Palestinian families flee Gaza City. Pic: AP
In his strongest comments to date on the plight of civilians caught in the crossfire, US secretary of state Antony Blinken told reporters on a visit to India: “Far too many Palestinians have been killed; far too many have suffered these past weeks.”
But Mr Blinken reaffirmed his country’s support for Israel’s campaign to ensure that Gaza can no longer be used “as a platform for launching terrorism”.