Joe Biden sends senior diplomat to calm conflict in Gaza

The US State Department has dispatched a senior diplomatic official to the worsening situation in Gaza as the death toll climbs and both sides showing no signs of a ceasefire. Approximately 1500 rockets have been fired into Israel by Hamas since Monday (local time), escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine in what has been described as the worst conflict since 2014. The Israeli Defence Force claimed it continued to target militant sites in Palestine and said it had killed approximately 30 militants including senior Hamas operatives. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health more than 60 Palestinians have died during the skirmish including 16 children, while Israel has claimed seven lives have been lost. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Israel has an obligation to avoid civilian deaths in the skirmish and condemned the rocket fire by Hamas. Mr Blinken phoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advise him the State Department sent Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Hady Amr to begin dialogues with both sides. "He will urge, on my behalf and on behalf of President (Joe) Biden, a de-escalation of violence,” Mr Blinken said.