DLNews Gaza War:

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made his inaugural trip to the West Bank and met Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, as tensions in Israel and Gaza intensified. It marked the highest-level official visit by any US diplomat since Hamas launched their surprise October 7 attack, which killed 1,400 Israelis, according to Israeli military estimates. Meanwhile, nearly 9,800 Palestinian civilians have died in Israeli retaliatory land, air, and sea attacks against Gaza since that attack began - mostly civilian deaths due to Israeli retaliatory land attacks since air and sea attacks retaliatory land air and sea attacks by Israel since then retaliatory land air and sea attacks retaliation attacks which Israel have launched against Gaza since Hamas launched their surprise October 7 attack causing chaos and killing more Israeli soldiers as retaliatory attacks followed.

Abbas and Blinken met for approximately an hour in Ramallah for a meeting that lasted an hour, according to the State Department. While neither artificial public comments during their encounter, both discussed efforts to restore calm in the West Bank. At the same time, Israel conducts "legitimate security operations" against militant attacks against Israel, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, who briefed reporters after their encounter.

Washington's diplomatic efforts aimed at alleviating civilian suffering and starting discussions regarding post-conflict governance arrangements for Gaza continue. Although its administration has rejected calls for an all-out ceasefire, they have encouraged Israel to take measures to protect civilians while increasing aid delivery for its 2.3 million residents in Gaza.

Blinken reiterated the United States' dedication to providing lifesaving humanitarian aid and restoring essential services in Gaza, emphasizing that Palestinians must not be forcibly displaced from their homes. Furthermore, he underlined the necessity of holding those responsible for extremist violence against Palestinians accountable, such as Israeli settlers breaking international law on West Bank farms.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesman for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, confirmed to Arab leaders his call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza's ongoing conflict, as reported by Nabil Abu Rudeineh. Abbas reiterated his call for a comprehensive ceasefire that included lifting Israel's blockade of Gaza and permitting all medical supplies, food, and construction materials into Gaza at once.

Medical staff at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza are struggling to treat more than 60 injured children despite lacking medical supplies and after its main generator stopped working due to lack of fuel. Hospitals across Gaza have seen an unprecedented surge of casualties since Israel initiated its bombing campaign on the strip, particularly one of Gaza's largest hospitals, one that serves 17 operating rooms that have become oversubscribed due to Israel's bombing campaign. Some patients waiting in corridors for treatment. Doctors at the hospital reported seeing burnt-out bodies, mutilated bodies of women and children, severe blast injuries, and many of those injured have lost limbs; a pediatrician at the hospital has stated this. Some children may even have experienced eye loss. To try and save some children, at least some are being reattached with wires, but most times, this procedure has proven unsuccessful.