Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The White House on Thursday said talks with Egypt and Israel were continuing over the creation of a humanitarian corridor that would allow civilians, including Palestinian Americans, to leave Gaza amid concerns over an Israeli ground invasion.
White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said President Joe Biden's administration supports enabling the flow of assistance to residents of Gaza and for civilians to be able to leave through a humanitarian corridor.
“The first and most important thing that we're trying to do is allow for safe passage. Right now they can't leave so we would have no physical means of permitting that transit out,” Mr Kirby told journalists.
“We're actively having conversations with the Israelis and the Egyptians about a safe passage corridor so that people who want to leave, can leave.”
Mr Kirby's comments came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Israel in a show of solidarity. He vowed the US would “always be there” by Israel's side.
On Saturday, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people and prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to completely seal off the Gaza Strip. Israel has launched massive air strikes on the tiny enclave, flattening entire neighbourhoods and killing about 1,500 people so far.
And on Tuesday, air strikes on the Rafah border crossing with Egypt made the only other way out of the territory unusable.
Earlier this week, Israel cut off water, food, electricity and medicine to the territory that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, drawing concerns from the UN and aid organisations that the move would harm innocent civilians and lead to a humanitarian crisis.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on Wednesday for “immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access” to civilians in Gaza and added that “there is no time to lose”.
Amid a massive call-up of Israeli army reservists, concerns were looming that Israel was preparing for a ground invasion.
Mr Kirby said allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza is “the right thing to do.”
-
At UN headquarters in New York City, Rachel Zeitchik, right, and Jay Zeitchik attend an event for families of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas. AFP -
Palestinians flee from northern Gaza towards the south after the Israeli army demanded the population of more than a million people leave before a ground invasion. AP -
Demonstrators at a rally in support of Palestine face a counter-demonstration in support of Israel near Times Square in New York. EPA -
Palestinians flee from northern Gaza to the south after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning. AP -
An injured man is rescued from the rubble of a building following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP -
Mourners take cover as sirens sound during the funeral of Tom Godo, killed during the attack by Hamas militants on the Kibbutz Kisuffim last week, in Kibbutz Naan near Tel Aviv. AFP -
A Palestinian man flashes the victory sign as he and others leave northern Gaza before an expected Israeli ground offensive. AFP -
Palestinians head south with their belongings after being ordered by Israel to leave northern Gaza on Friday. AFP -
Israel ordered more than a million Palestinians to head south within 24 hours. Reuters -
The UN criticised the directive, saying forcing such a large number of people to flee en masse would be catastrophic. Reuters -
Gazans have to travel about 15km if they live in the northernmost part of the strip to reach the area south of the Wadi Gaza. Reuters -
The UN said that more than 423,000 people have already fled their homes in the territory, with a sizeable number making the more than 10km journey on foot. Reuters -
Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City. AFP -
An Armoured Personnel Carrier drives near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. Reuters -
Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gather for mass Friday prayer during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters -
A Palestinian woman waits to cross into Jerusalem's Old City through Damascus Gate next to Israeli soldiers. AFP -
Israeli army infantry fighting vehicles deploy along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. AFP -
Israeli soldiers detain a man while on patrol near Kibbutz Beeri, near the Gaza Strip. AFP -
Students hold in a rally in support of Palestine at Columbia University in New York. Getty Images -
Family and friends mourn Valentin Ghnassia, 23, who was killed in a battle with Palestinian militants at Kibbutz Beeri near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip. Getty Images -
A ball of fire erupts in Gaza city after an Israeli air strike. AFP -
Palestinians inspect the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli air strike at Al Shati refugee camp. AP -
A fireball erupts from an Israeli air strike in Gaza city. AFP -
People waiting for news of victims outside the morgue at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. AFP -
A girl mourns the death of members of the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters -
Israelis arrive to sign up at a weapons distribution point for people allowed to carry arms, at the Ayyelet HaShahar Kibbutz in northern Israel, near the Lebanese border. AFP -
Mourners outside the morgue at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for a sixth consecutive day. AFP -
Men dig graves to bury members of the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house in Khan Younis. Reuters -
Palestinian children who fled their homes during Israeli strikes, play at a United Nations-run school in Gaza City. Reuters -
Israeli soldiers near a self-propelled howitzer near the border with Gaza in southern Israel. AFP -
Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, left, welcomes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon arrival at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. AFP -
Palestinian children in a makeshift shelter at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Reuters -
Boxes of humanitarian aid and supplies from Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation destined for Gaza, in Amman, Jordan. Reuters -
Palestinians outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on the sixth day of fighting between Israel and Hamas. AFP -
A pro-Israel vigil in Montevideo, Uruguay. EPA
The announcement came as an unknown number of Palestinian Americans have been unable to leave the Gaza Strip.
But some Palestinians in Gaza, many of them refugees from the 1948 war that led to the creation of state of Israel, are worried that if they are allowed to leave the enclave, they will not be allowed to return after the conflict ends.
“Our focus right now is making sure that – not all of them are going to want to leave – but to those who do, who really want to get out that they have the ability to get out,” Mr Kirby said.
“We know that Gaza is home for these people, and if they want to go back home, they should absolutely be allowed to go back home but they should be able to make those decisions, just like citizens anywhere should be able to make those kinds of decisions.”
On Thursday, US officials updated the number of Americans who are believed to have been killed to 27, and the number unaccounted for to 14.
Hamas gunmen are believed to have taken about 150 hostages in their attack on Saturday.
Mr Kirby also announced that starting on Friday, the US would evacuate Americans who have not been able to secure commercial transport out of Israel aboard charter flights to cities in Europe.
