US TELLS ISRAEL TO SAVE THE CIVILIANS

Appeal amid growing Gaza crisis

- ANDY LINES

INTENSE fighting continued in Gaza last night as the US urged Israel to focus on "putting a premium" on saving civilian lives.

Aid charities warned of a growing humanitarian crisis as Israel continued major attacks around the southern city of Khan Younis but also in the north.

Military spokesman Avichay Adraee said the air force had taken out several missile launchers and targeted a cache of Hamas rocket-propelled grenades.

But US State Department spokesman Nathaniel Tek called on Israel to concentrate on the protection of human life and the ability of aid organisations to access civilians.