TEL AVIV, November 3. /TASS/. The United States has suggested that Israel take "concrete steps" to minimize casualties among Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a press conference in Tel Aviv.

"We’ve provided Israel advice that only the best of friends can offer on how to minimize civilian deaths while still achieving its objectives of finding and finishing Hamas terrorists and their infrastructure of violence. Today, I spoke with [Israel’s] Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior officials about concrete steps to do that," Blinken said

The top US diplomat pointed out that President Joe Biden had consistently stressed the need for Israel to operate in accordance with international humanitarian law.

"I also emphasized that the protection of civilians must take place not just in Gaza, but also in the West Bank, where incitement and extremist violence against Palestinians must be stopped - and perpetrators held accountable," he said.