Israel faces growing US calls to avoid further harm to Palestinian civilians in its fight against Hamas in Gaza, as the warring sides have showed no sign of moving toward reviving their collapsed truce.

As Israeli forces pounded the enclave following the breakdown of a temporary truce, US Vice President Kamala Harris said too many innocent Palestinians had been killed in Gaza, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin deemed it a “moral responsibility” for Israel to protect civilians.

The senior US officials’ remarks reinforced pressure from Washington for Israel to use more caution as it shifts the focus of its military offensive further south in the besieged Gaza Strip.