US calls for civilians to be protected in Gaza

Jen Psaki, spokesperson for the US State Department, spoke in a press briefing on Thursday - given shortly before the beginning of the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza - of the need to prevent more civilian deaths.

“We continue to urge all parties to do all they can to protect civilians,” she told reporters “We have been heart-broken by the high civilian death toll in Gaza.”

She condemned the deaths of the four Gazan boys from what is believed to be Israeli naval rocket fire on Wednesday.

“The tragic event makes clear that Israel must take every possible step to meet its standards for protecting civilians from being killed," Psaki said.

Psaki also said: “I don't think we've made any secret about our concern, strong concern about the actions of Hamas, the indiscriminate rocket attacks, the targeting of civilians - and that concern remains.”