Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a public appeal to protect Palestinian civilians during a visit to Israel on Friday, calling for arrangements for “humanitarian pauses” amid the fighting in Gaza.
Speaking in Tel Aviv after meeting with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said he raised the issue of humanitarian breaks. He said the two discussed how to ensure Hamas does not use such pauses “to its own advantage” and “how the pause could be linked to the release of hostages.”
His comments came as Israeli Defense Minister Gallant reportedly did told According to a report, Israel would not agree to a pause that does not include the release of hostages.
“We must do more to protect Palestinian civilians,” Blinken said. He called it the right and lawful thing to do. “Failure to do so plays into the hands of Hamas and other terrorist groups,” Blinken said.
“We must do more to protect Palestinian civilians,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during his trip to Israel on Friday.
He also called for the speeding up of aid supplies to Gaza to help people who are in “desperate need” through “no fault of their own.”
It came during a press event where he also recalled the killing of 1,400 Israelis following the Hamas terror attack.
‘The brutality of the slaughter has disappeared so quickly in the memories of so many. But not in Israel and not in America,” he said.
Blinken met again with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu (R) in Tel Aviv
Blinken also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his visit
Blinken repeatedly invoked the use of “humanitarian pauses” in the effort to return American and other Israeli and foreign nationals seized by Hamas.
“A humanitarian pause could help this effort,” he said.
“This is a very important piece,” he said.
Blinken again defended Israel’s “right and even obligation” to defend itself. But he repeatedly pointed out the “imperative” to “do everything possible to protect civilians.”
It comes after two repeated attacks by the Israeli army on the Jabalya refugee camp.
He also calls for Israeli settlers to rule by force in the West Bank, which is controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
He said he heard a “clear commitment” to tackling extremist behavior in the West Bank.
And Blinken echoed President Biden’s warnings against anyone seeking to expand the conflict amid fears that Hezbollah would open a second front with Israel amid repeated rocket attacks with Israeli forces.
“We are determined that there will not be a second or third front opened in this conflict,” Blinken said, noting that the US had deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups to the region.
It came on a day when Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hezbollah, made his own comments amid fears that Israel could face an extended war.