US envoy faces Arab anger as Gaza comes under fierce Israeli attack

Israel's relentless bombing showed no signs of easing up on Saturday, even as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced a rising tide of anger in meetings with Arab foreign ministers.

Speaking at a news conference in Amman about sparing civilians and speeding up aid deliveries, the US top diplomat said: "The United States believes that all of these efforts will be facilitated by humanitarian pauses."

Local media reported that Blinken sought remarks from the Arab foreign ministers to describe Israel's attack as an act of "self-defence" - a notion they strongly refused. Instead, they repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi urged for all sides to work together to "stop a catastrophe that will haunt the region for generations".

Israeli forces have encircled Gaza's largest city for days following weeks of an air campaign that has so far killed over 9,488 Palestinians, including 3,900 children.

The attacks have provoked anti-Israeli protests around the world, and political opposition from key regional powers, including influential Turkey, which on Saturday recalled its ambassador from Israel.

Turkey's tone hardened against both Israel and its Western supporters - particularly the United States - as the fighting escalated and the death toll among Palestinian civilians soared.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan separately told reporters that he held Netanyahu personally responsible for the growing civilian death toll in the Gaza Strip.

"Netanyahu is no longer someone we can talk to. We have written him off," Turkish media quoted Erdogan as saying, adding that Ankara could not completely cut off ties and hoped instead to help mediate an end to the war through its intelligence chief.

Blinken is due to make a two-day visit to Turkey from Sunday, during which he will "underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives in Israel and the Gaza Strip", the US State Department said.