U.S. asks Israel and Palestine to do more to protect civilians

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The U.S. State Department said both Israel and Palestine need to do more to protect civilians. CCTV’s Stephanie Freid reports from Tel Aviv.

U.S. asks Israel and Palestine to do more to protect civilians

The U.S. State Department isn't placing blame and says both Israel and Palestine need to do more to protect civilians. CCTV's Stephanie Freid reports from Tel Aviv with more reaction.

The death toll in the ongoing fight between Israel and Hamas has risen to more than 700 Palestinians and 34 Israelis.

Meanwhile, the leader of Hamas insisted the Islamic militants would not relent until their main demand of lifting an Egyptian-Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip is met.

On the ground, Israeli troops clashed with Hamas fighters armed with rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles on the outskirts of Khan Younis. At least eight militants were killed, according to a Palestinian health official. Hundreds of people fled their homes as the battle unfolded, flooding into the streets with what few belongings they could carry. They said they were seeking shelter in nearby UN schools.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who met for the second time this week with United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon, flew to Israel on an Air Force jet, despite a ban imposed a day earlier by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on commercial flights into Ben-Gurion Airport because of Hamas rocket fire nearby. The FAA extended the ban and many major European carriers also canceled more flights due to security concerns.

The FAA dropped the ban just before midnight.

The international community is pulling out all the stops to try and end the violence in Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond are among those trying to broker a cease-fire.CCTV’s Adel El Mahrouky reports from Cairo.
Follow Adel ELMahrouky on Twitter @AdelMahrouky

Talks to broker a cease-fire in Gaza

The international community is pulling out all the stops to try and end the violence in Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond are among those trying to broker a cease-fire.CCTV's Adel El Mahrouky reports from Cairo.