Israel should do more to protect Gaza civilians: Secretary of State Blinken

Speaking on CNN's State of the Union, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians.

Two days after the US vetoed a proposed UN resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, Blinken said Israel needs to put "a premium" on protecting Gaza civilians and making sure humanitarian assistance can reach those who need it.

"The critical thing is to make sure that the military operations are designed around civilian protection," Blinken said.

"I think the intent is there. But the results are not always manifesting themselves," he continued. 

Among the steps that Blinken said the US is "not seeing sufficiently" are "deconfliction times, places and routes" that would allow humanitarian operations to deliver aid and help civilians to get out of harm's way.