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Added on the 04/12/2023 19:40:07 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
The United States deplores the shelling on a UN shelter in Gaza that killed nine people, and calls again for civilians to be protected in the bloody war with Israel, a State Department spokesman says. "We deplore today's attack on the UN's Khan Yunis training center," spokesman Vedant Patel tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
The first commercial trucks have entered the Gaza Strip since the war, joining UN-led deliveries, the United States says. It is "a critical step towards improving the lives of the Palestinian people in Gaza that we see not just humanitarian aid delivered, but also commercial goods that can be sold in stores and markets," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
The United States says it has seen some improvement by Israel in narrowing targets in its Gaza offensive as it renews a call on its ally to spare civilians. "We've seen a much more targeted request for evacuations" than in the earlier campaign in the north, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tells reporters. "So that is an improvement on what's happened before." SOUNDBITE
"An initial group of foreign nationals including US citizens departed Gaza through Rafah today, and we expect exits of US citizens and foreign nationals to continue over the next several days," says US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller during a press briefing. SOUNDBITE
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has asked China's foreign minister and other counterparts to use their influence to dissuade Iran from striking Israel, the State Department says. Blinken spoke by telephone to his Chinese, Turkish, Saudi and European counterparts "to make clear that escalation is not in anyone's interest and that countries should urge Iran not to escalate," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tells reporters. SOUNDBITE