Title: U.S. Secretary of State Pushes for Humanitarian Pause as Conflict Escalates in Gaza
Date: November 3, 2023
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Tel Aviv to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas. Blinken’s visit comes as the death toll continues to rise, with both Palestinian and Israeli children being caught in the crossfire.
Blinken expressed deep concern over the situation, stating that the sight of children from both sides suffering “hits me in the gut”. He emphasized the need for concrete steps to protect civilians in Gaza, where basic necessities such as food, fuel, water, and medicine are running dangerously low.
Israel has ramped up its offensive against Hamas, targeting the militant group’s infrastructure from air, land, and sea. The Israeli military reported striking several Hamas targets overnight, including a Hamas commander responsible for directing combat in Gaza. However, there was no immediate confirmation from Hamas regarding casualties.
The international community has called for humanitarian pauses in the fighting, with the United Arab Emirates urging for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further escalation. However, the United States has indicated that any pauses in fighting should be temporary and localized, maintaining Israel’s right to defend itself.
The situation on the ground remains dire, with Gazans facing devastating conditions and a rising number of civilian casualties. The Rafah crossing to Egypt has been temporarily opened for limited evacuations under a Qatari-brokered deal. More than 700 foreign citizens have already left Gaza through the crossing, along with critically injured Palestinians. Israel has also sent back around 7,000 Palestinian workers who had been working in Israel before the conflict began.
As the conflict intensifies, discussions have emerged regarding a potential post-Hamas Gaza. Diplomats have floated ideas such as the deployment of a multinational force, an interim Palestinian-led administration that excludes Hamas, and temporary U.N. supervision of the territory. Israel has yet to present an endgame for the conflict.
Meanwhile, a group of independent United Nations human rights experts expressed concerns that Palestinians in Gaza are at a “grave risk of genocide”. The Israeli mission to the U.N. in Geneva criticized the comments and blamed Hamas for civilian deaths.
Palestinians trapped in Gaza City are anxiously awaiting a potential truce, hoping to avoid further casualties and destruction.
Blinken is scheduled to meet with Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman on Saturday to discuss the ongoing conflict.
This article includes reporting from Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Ali Sawafta in Ramallah, Dan Williams, Emily Rose, Maytaal Angel in Jerusalem, Clauda Tanios in Dubai, and Patricia Zengerle, Phil Stewart, and Idrees Ali in Washington. The article was written by Michael Perry and Angus MacSwan, with editing by Miral Fahmy and Andrew Cawthorne.