Blinken says ‘far too many’ Palestinians killed, while Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry puts death toll at 11,000 – but IDF says ’80 percent’ of civilians evacuated

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today that “far too many” Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing war with Israel, while the Hamas-led Health Ministry in Gaza put the civilian death toll at 11,000.

The comments are among his most condemning Israeli airstrikes, made during the minister’s state visit to India.

‘Far too many Palestinians have been killed. Far too many people have suffered in recent weeks.

Palestinians bury members of the Hijazi family killed in an airstrike in southern Gaza Strip

The bodies were buried two at a time on Friday. The Hamas-led Health Ministry in Gaza estimated the death toll at 11,000

“We want to do everything possible to prevent harm to them and maximize the assistance provided to them,” he said.

He praised Israel for agreeing to a four-hour daily pause in the conflict so that remaining civilians could be evacuated and humanitarian organizations could provide aid.

Israeli officials have not yet acknowledged the death toll. The country has faced increasing criticism over its military tactics this week, with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres among others speaking out.

While officials still won’t take the blame for the civilian deaths — instead blaming Hamas for using the Palestinians as human shields — they claim that 80 percent of Gaza’s 1.1 million civilians are now the conflict zone escaped.

IDF Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Conricus told journalists last night that the forces have “exposed” 130 Hamas tunnels and continue to dismantle key strongholds

According to IDF officials, tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians flee northern Gaza every day.

‘Today was a good day, 50,000 people took part in (the evacuation) from North Gaza to the South. Between 850,000 and 900,000 of Gaza’s 1.1 million people have been evacuated.

‘We are very happy with this. That does not apply to Hamas,” IDF Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Conricus said last night during a briefing at the Israeli consulate in New York.

These figures have not yet been confirmed or disputed by Palestinian authorities, nor have they been verified by the UN or independent bodies.

While Israel has agreed to daily breaks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that a ceasefire is “not an option.”

“A ceasefire with Hamas means surrender to Hamas and surrender to terror,” he said during an appearance Fox news.