The US Secretary of State stressed to Israeli President Isaac Herzog the need for all parties involved in the conflict to take “feasible measures” to protect the lives of civilians.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met this Saturday in Munich with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, in a meeting in which the senior US official confirmed Israel's right to ensure that “the terrorist attacks” of October 7 ” “never” happen, repeat.”
According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, Blinken and Herzog discussed efforts already underway to secure the release of hostages and achieve a “humanitarian pause” that would help increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in the Loop.
Blinken also reiterated that the United States could not support a military ground operation in Rafah without “a credible plan” that could be put into practice to ensure the safety of the more than one million people housed there.
Also read: US envoy says Israel has provided no evidence of Hamas diverting humanitarian aid from the UN
The US Secretary of State also stressed the need for all parties involved in the conflict to “take feasible measures” to protect the lives of civilians and prevent the conflict from escalating.
“The minister underlined the United States' commitment to lasting peace in the region, including through the establishment of a Palestinian state with guaranteed security for Israel,” the American spokesman added.
Auxiliary distribution on tense feet
This Saturday it also became known that David Satterfield, special representative of the US government for humanitarian affairs in the Middle East, indicated that Israel has not provided concrete evidence that Hamas is withdrawing aid from the United Nations and that the recent targeted Attacks have taken place Gaza police commanders protecting truck convoys have made safe distribution of humanitarian aid “virtually impossible.”
The Israeli air and ground offensive triggered by Hamas's invasion of southern Israel on October 7 has left more than 28,000 Palestinians dead in the area controlled by that militia, according to health authorities. In addition, some parts of the enclave were devastated, displacing almost 80% of the population and triggering a serious humanitarian crisis.
Also read: Netanyahu rejects international pressure in favor of a Palestinian state
Israel has said it is committed to expanding its ground offensive on Rafah, which it says is the last major stronghold of Hamas militants, but has not said when it will do so. In response to international concerns, he said he would develop a plan to evacuate civilians before entering the southern city.
US President Joe Biden has called on Israel not to carry out the operation without a “credible” plan to protect civilians and instead seek a ceasefire. Egypt said the operation would jeopardize diplomatic ties between the two countries.
(With information from Associated Press)
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