US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in his strongest public criticism of Israel’s conduct of the offensive on Hamas in south Gaza, has said there was a gap between the government’s declared intentions to protect civilians and the casualties, Reuters reports.

“As we stand here almost a week into this campaign into the south … it remains imperative that Israel put a premium on civilian protection,” Blinken said at a press conference following a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Washington on Thursday.

“And there does remain a gap between … the intent to protect civilians and the actual results that we’re seeing on the ground,” Blinken said.