US state secretary Antony Blinken is back in the Middle East today on his eighth visit since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out. He has two clear objectives - to pressure the two warring sides to come to a ceasefire deal and to stop the conflict spreading further.
Eyewitnesses who watched a massive Israeli rescue mission take place have described scenes of horror as the operation unfolded. Saturday's raid saw four hostages taken on 7 October freed from captivity in the Gazan refugee camp of Nuseirat - but authorities say Israel killed at least 274 Palestinians in the process.Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said that number included 64 children and 57 women.
Khulood Shalaq, who was being treated at a hospital with her wounded one-year-old nephew, said 14 members of her family were killed in the raid, with some still buried in the rubble. At one point, she saw four helicopters launching missiles into the camp, 'bombing at random'.'They struck houses with rockets... the streets are filled with dead bodies,' she said.
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