U.S Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has iterated that his country’s stance on Israel’s planned assault on Rafah.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, March 22, 2024, Blinken stated that U.S shares Israel’s goals of defeating Hamas; but a major military ground operation in Rafah “is not the way to do it.”
“It risks killing more civilians. It risks wreaking havoc with the provision of humanitarian assistance. It risks further isolating Israel around the world and jeopardising its long-term security and standing.”
Antony Blinken
The U.S Secretary of State expressed that he was looking forward to having Israeli officials visit Washington for talks next week “to talk about a different way of achieving these objectives.”
Blinken remarked, “It requires an integrated humanitarian, military and political plan,” adding, “We’re determined that Israel succeed in defending itself and becomes integrated into the region secure and safe.”
Blinken said that he had a chance to meet with the hostage families during his visit in Israel, saying, it was “hard to describe what they’re going through every single day.”
“Progress has been made in the last couple of weeks on negotiations to free the remaining hostages,” Blinken said, but “there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
“We’re determined to try to get it done,” he added.
Blinken said he discussed the “imperative of surging and sustaining” humanitarian situation in Gaza with Netanyahu.
“100% of the population of Gaza is acutely food insecure, 100%,” he said, adding that “some positive steps” have been taken in recent days “but it’s not enough.”
Blinken divulged that his discussions with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his war cabinet focused on three things; the hostage negotiations, humanitarian assistance, and Rafah.
Blinken told reporters, “There were important, candid conversations to have at a critical time.”
The US state department released a readout of the meeting between its secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his war cabinet in Tel Aviv.
State department spokesperson, Matthew Miller disclosed that Blinken briefed Israel’s war cabinet members on “his consultations in Jeddah and Cairo about efforts to achieve lasting peace and security for Israel, the Palestinian people, and the broader region.”
He stated that Blinken “reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and the lasting defeat of Hamas, including in Rafah,” and discussed efforts to reach an agreement for a ceasefire to allow for the release of hostages and enable “a surge in humanitarian assistance.”
“Secretary Blinken emphasized the need to protect civilians in Gaza and increase and sustain humanitarian assistance, including through both land and sea routes.”
Matthew Miller
When asked what the US was trying to achieve with draft resolution that was put forward at the UN earlier today, Antony Blinken replied that the resolution received “very strong” support but was “cynically vetoed” by Russia and China.
The U.S Secretary of State said that the US was trying to show the international community “a sense of urgency” about getting a ceasefire.
Netanyahu Strongwilled On Rafah
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that Israel is determined to send troops into Rafah, where about 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering, and would do so without U.S backing, if necessary.
Netanyahu said in a statement that he told US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken that there is no way to defeat Hamas without going into Rafah.
“And I told him I hope we will do it with the support of the US. But if we have to – we will do it alone,” he said.
Later, Israeli war cabinet member, Benny Gantz posted about his meeting with Blinken in Tel Aviv, saying he “conveyed the imperative of completing the mission in Gaza, including Rafah.”
Gantz stated that he reiterated his “profound appreciation” for the US’s continued support for Israel during their meeting.
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