Blinken urges Israel to do more to protect civilians in phone call with minister

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the State Department in Washington, DC, on Thursday. Alex Brandon/AP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Thursday morning with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, commending the Israeli security cabinet for agreeing to allow more fuel into Gaza but saying that more needs to be done to get humanitarian assistance into the war-torn strip, according to a senior State Department official. 

Blinken also told Dermer that the Israeli government must do more to protect civilians, the official said.

Israel's security cabinet on Wednesday approved a "minimal" increase in the amount of fuel entering Gaza.

In an interview on CNN's "King Charles" on Wednesday, Blinken said that Israeli is taking some “important steps” to better protect civilians, but more action is required.