This was after Blinken stressed the need to protect civilians. The US top diplomat "stressed the imperative of accounting for humanitarian and civilian protection needs in southern Gaza before any military operations there," according to a summary by the State Department, which added that Blinken "urged Israel to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm."

As for the murders referenced by Netanyahu, on Thursday a pair of gunmen unleashed M16 and pistol fire on a crowd waiting at a Jerusalem bus stop, killing three Israelis and injuring 16. Shortly after the attack, Hamas claimed responsibility.

The Hamas statement said "the operation came as a natural response to unprecedented crimes conducted by the occupation" and further called for "an escalation of the resistance."