2023-12-01 01:01:30
Stop the massacres of civilians in the Gaza Strip in the event of new Israeli attacks. The United States has set ‘boundaries’ in view of the offensive that Israel intends to resume once the truce expires. In the hours in which another 6 hostages were freed, the US called for “a plan to defend civilians” before resuming the attack in the south. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined the picture at a press conference in Tel Aviv following his talks with the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressing that “you can’t have the massive loss of life that we’ve had in the north.” .
“An imperative,” Blinken added, while acknowledging the difficulties arising from the fact that Hamas “hides among civilians.” The Secretary of State, however, recalled that Israel has “one of the most sophisticated armies” and therefore understands that protecting civilians “is not only the right thing”, but also “the most strategic thing to do”.
In the press conference, Blinken explained that in his talks with the Israeli government he said the army must designate “multiple safe zones” in the center and south of the Strip, where civilians can avoid fighting. You also asked to avoid other “mass movements” as happened to the Palestinians who were forced to leave from the north in the first weeks of the conflict.
“They must have the right to return to their homes” underlined the Secretary of State, adding that Israel must avoid targeting “vital infrastructures” such as hospitals, power plants and water purification plants. Although in recent days US administration sources have made it known that Washington is presenting these requests to Tel Aviv, it is the first time that a senior member of the Biden administration has expressed them publicly.
Reiterating that the US supports Israel’s right to defend itself, citing yesterday’s attack on Jerusalem as further evidence of the threat from Hamas, Blinken said that “how Israel defends itself matters: as I told the prime minister, l Intent matters, but results also matter.”
Israel’s response
Netanyahu reiterated to Blinken that he does not want the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to govern Gaza. “As long as I sit in this chair, the Palestinian Authority that supports, finances and educates terrorism will not govern Gaza after Hamas,” Netanyahu said. “You don’t want the Palestinian Authority the next day. We understand that. But the best way to discard an idea is to propose a better one. The other states in the region need to know what you envision,” Blinken responded during the meeting with the Cabinet of war, calling for a post-conflict solution for Gaza.
“We will fight Hamas until we prevail, no matter how long it takes,” assured Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. “We will continue this victory until we win, we defeat the Hamas organization, we deprive it of its military and governance capabilities, and we bring all the hostages home” – added Gallant – we know that in the objectives of the operation we are united with the States United and we appreciate it very much.”
The other hostages
The Israeli government is ready to discuss a different framework of agreements for the release of civilians and soldiers, as Israeli MP Danny Danon, former UN ambassador and member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, told CNN. “We are close to the end” of the current phase of the agreement, he explained, but now Hamas “wants a different equation. Now we have one hostage for three Palestinian prisoners and they want to change this proportion. Until they can free hostages we are ready to talk.” However, Danon added that he believes Hamas will not release all the hostages because it sees them as bargaining chips to negotiate an end to the war.
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