According to the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza, more than 10,000 people have been killed in the Palestinian enclave since Israel launched its military offensive nearly a month ago. The ministry reported that 4,104 children, 2,641 women, and 611 elderly people have been killed in Israeli strikes. These numbers suggest that about three-quarters of the dead are from vulnerable populations. The ministry also reported 25,408 injuries.

It is important to note that these numbers cannot be independently verified by CNN, as Gaza is sealed off by Israel and mostly sealed by Egypt. However, the United Nations Human Rights Office has said that last week's attacks on Gaza's largest refugee camp "could amount to war crimes" due to the scale of casualties and destruction.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that Gaza is becoming a "graveyard for children" and called for a humanitarian ceasefire. Based on the ministry's figures, at least one child is being killed every 10 minutes.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has traveled to the West Bank and Iraq to meet with Palestinian and Iraqi leaders, in an effort to deter other countries or armed groups from widening the conflict. He has also pressed Israel for a "humanitarian pause" to allow aid in and people out of Gaza, as well as to limit civilian casualties.