Civilians in Gaza require greater protection, says Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza, after a strike on a UN shelter there killed at least a dozen people.

Speaking in Angola’s capital Luanda on Thursday, Mr Blinken praised the UN’s “life-saving” work in Gaza.

Its UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is playing a prominent role in providing food and shelter for civilians amid the conflict.

On Wednesday, a strike on a UNRWA shelter in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza killed 12 people and wounded about 75, said the agency.

The White House said it was “gravely concerned” by the strike but repeated its “unwavering” support for Israel’s right to self-defence.

The UN shelter “is essential and it has to be protected”, said Mr Blinken. “We have reaffirmed this with the government of Israel and it is my understanding that they are … looking into this incident.

“The suffering of citizens in Gaza, men, women and children remains heartbreaking.”

Mr Blinken added that it was Israel’s responsibility to protect civilians.

According to the UN, two tank shells struck the shelter.

Only Israeli is known to have tanks in the Gaza Strip. It said it has “currently ruled out” that the strike was carried out by its aircraft or artillery but was still investigating.

The military added that the building may have been hit by a Hamas rocket.

The National accompanied Mr Blinken on his tour of West Africa that was aimed at promoting US investments and support as Washington looks to counter Chinese and Russian influence there.

But the Israel-Gaza war has remained ever-present, with Mr Blinken taking questions at each media briefing.