2024-01-10 00:10:00
Antony Blinken and Benjamin Netanyahu, meeting in Tel Aviv. (@secblinken)
The head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, asked the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyau, to avoid inflicting “further damage to civilians” in Gaza and assured that the Hebrew country will accept a UN evaluation mission in the north of the enclave to facilitate a return of the displaced, during his visit this Tuesday to Tel Aviv within the framework of his fourth tour of the region since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.
“The secretary reaffirmed our support for Israel’s right to prevent a repeat of the October 7 terrorist attacks and stressed the importance of preventing further harm to civilians and protecting civilian infrastructure in Gaza,” the Department of Defense spokesman said. State, Matthew Miller.
The war in Gaza It began after militants from Hamas and other armed groups such as Islamic Jihad attacked Israeli territory on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapped about 240, among them about twenty Argentines. After mediation led by Qatar, the United States and Egypt, more than 100 hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The administration official Joe Biden and Netanyahu They also discussed “ongoing efforts to secure the release of all hostages” who remain in captivity in Gaza and who, according to a count by Israeli authorities, number around 130.
At the same time, they discussed “the importance of increasing the level of humanitarian assistance reaching civilians in Gaza”Miller said.
Antony Blinken and Isaac Herzog, Israeli president. (@secblinken) Blinken also met with Netanyahu’s opponent and current war cabinet member, Benny Ganzt.and after the meeting the Secretary of State published a brief statement in which it indicated that the US estimates that the reduction of damage to civilians and the acceleration of aid for the Palestinians of Gaza, among other things, could be done “through an effective de-escalation process of the conflict”.
After the meetings with members of the Israeli government, the US official gave a press conference in which he assured “that everyone has to make decisions, and that includes Hamas”since the group could “have ended this on October 8 if it had not hidden behind civilians, if it had laid down its weapons, if it had surrendered, if it had freed the hostages.”
As “Israel’s campaign evolves into a phase of lower intensity in northern Gaza and (the Israeli army) reduces its forces there, we have agreed on a plan for the UN to carry out an assessment mission” there. area, Blinken said.
Initially, The Israeli offensive focused on the north of the enclavebut Netanyahu officials explained in recent days that the advance is now focused on the center and south of the territory
According to the US Secretary of State, the UN mission “will determine what needs to be done to allow displaced Palestinians to return to the north safely.” This will not happen overnight, he said, adding that there are “serious security, infrastructure and humanitarian problems.”
But this mission will begin a process that evaluates these obstacles and how they can be overcome. “I have made it very clear that Palestinian civilians must be able to return to their homes as soon as conditions permit. They should not be pressured to leave Gaza,” Blinken said, according to the British newspaper The Guardian.
The US “unequivocally” rejects any proposal that advocates the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza, he reported. At the same time, he assured that the “daily toll of civilians in Gaza, especially children, is too high.”
Blinken also demanded “more food, more water, more medicine” for Gaza, according to the AFP news agency.
After the Hamas attack, Israel declared war and unleashed an offensive against the Gaza Strip that left at least 23,210 dead, according to today’s balance of the Ministry of Health of the enclave governed by Hamas, in addition to a humanitarian situation aggravated by the lack of basic supplies in the enclave.
Miller also commented that Blinken “reiterated the need to ensure a lasting and sustainable peace for Israel and the region, including the creation of a Palestinian state.”
During his press conference, Blinken assured that “Israel must be an interlocutor for Palestinian leaders who wish to lead their people (…) and Israel must stop undermining the Palestinians’ ability to govern themselves effectively,” he declared.
Israel occupies the West Bank and Jerusalem This since a war with Arab countries in 1967, and the Palestinians claim both territories to found an independent state that also includes the Gaza Strip, a territory that was blocked by sky, sea and land by the Israeli government since it withdrew in 2005.
Blinken also held a meeting with the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, in Tel Aviv. Gallant told Blinken that Israeli operations in southern Gaza will “intensify and continue” until the Hamas leaders are found and the Israeli hostages are released “safe and sound,” according to a statement from the Israeli government. by Times of Israel.
Despite international pressure and calls for a ceasefire, Israel remains adamant and continues its offensive in Gaza. In this sense, Gallant informed Blinken about the evolution of the war and pointed out Israel’s “changes in combat tactics” in the north of the enclave, where the military has reduced some of the fighting.
New attacks
Khan Younis and Rafah, the largest cities in the south of the besieged Palestinian territory, were once again the targets of intense bombing. Photo: AFP.
Khan Yunis and Rafah, the largest cities in the Palestinian south, were once again the target of intense shelling in the early morning, according to the AFP news agency. Both towns have hosted thousands of internally displaced people since the war began.
The Israeli Army announced that its troops killed 40 Islamist fighters in the last 24 hours, within the framework of “expanded ground operations including airstrikes” in Khan Yunis, and that all types of weapons were seized.
At the same time, it confirmed this Tuesday that another nine of its soldiers died in combat during the last hours, which brings to 185 the number of Israeli soldiers killed since the start of the war, reported the Europa Press news agency.
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