US Secretary of State Blinken pushes for Gaza ceasefire
US Secretary of State Blinken urges Israel to increase aid to Gaza and Hamas to accept ceasefire offers
In his seventh visit to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 7, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need for Israel to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Speaking in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Blinken emphasized the urgency of reaching a cease-fire agreement to ease the dire situation in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
He highlighted Israel’s “extraordinarily generous” offer to Hamas and called on Hamas to accept it as soon as possible to pave the way for positive change.
“Hamas has before it a proposal that is extraordinarily, extraordinarily generous on the part of Israel, and in this moment, the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and cease-fire is Hamas,” he emphasized during a gathering at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh.
Blinken underlined the urgent need to improve conditions in Gaza, but despite ongoing negotiations, Hamas has yet to accept the proposals brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the U.S.
Blinken noted that some progress has been made in recent weeks, such as the opening of new crossings and increased aid deliveries, but emphasized that more action is needed.
Blinken also emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers and the efficiency of aid delivery to Palestinian civilians.
Challenge for Biden Administration
The conflict in Gaza continues with no clear resolution in sight, killing more than 34,000 Palestinians and displacing hundreds of thousands, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the region.
This ongoing conflict has led to global protests that have reached American college campuses, with criticism of U.S. support for Israel. The administration is aware of how these criticisms could pose challenges for President Joe Biden, especially in an election year.
Against this backdrop, Secretary Blinken’s visit comes at a time of renewed concern about the potential for the conflict to spread across the Middle East.
In addition, the prospects for improved Israeli-Saudi relations have stalled, as Israel’s rejection of a Palestinian state – a key Saudi condition – has put normalization efforts on hold.
In addition, there are warnings against Israel launching a major military operation in Rafah in southern Gaza, where many Palestinians have sought refuge.
Despite recent tensions between Israel and Iran, Blinken underscored the importance of preventing a further escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, potentially involving the entire region.
Source: AP
