US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Image: EPA
Blinken claims that the cost of the Israel-Gaza war on children is too high.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that the cost of war on Gaza’s civilian population is “far too high”.
According to Mr. Blinken, Israel must lower obstacles to enable more vital aid to reach Gaza.
However, he noted that Israel was up against an enormous obstacle in the form of Hamas, an enemy that had infiltrated the civilian population.
After meeting with Israeli officials on his fourth visit to the nation since the start of the conflict, Mr. Blinken was addressing.
At a press conference in Tel Aviv, the US ambassador to the region stated that regional leaders were also concerned about the “dire humanitarian situation” in the region.
However, throughout the previous three days, he claimed to have learned a fresh and potent lesson from Israel’s neighbours.
According to Mr. Blinken, they are prepared to live with Israel as well as integrate the area in a way that ensures everyone’s security, including Israel.
Put another way, there has been discussion of diplomatic normalisation with Israel, despite the fact that it seemed to have been derailed by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
He stated that in order to achieve long-term peace, Israel would need to agree to a “clear pathway to the realisation of Palestinian political rights and a Palestinian state,” among other difficult decisions and choices.
Regarding whether Israel would take this into consideration, Mr. Blinken would not be drawn.
Citing security concerns, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed his strong opposition to the creation of such a state.
Israel and many other western countries, including the US, have branded Hamas as a terrorist group. Israel initiated its invasion in Gaza in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas. There were 1,300 casualties from the strikes.
According to the health ministry administered by Hamas, over 23,200 individuals have died in Gaza since then, the majority of whom being women and children.
Mr. Blinken said that no one in the region, including the Israelis, wanted the war to intensify when asked if there was any evidence that Israel was de-escalating its military operation in Gaza.
While this may comfort many concerned about the situation escalating, he did not indicate that Israel had informed him that it was going to reduce its military activities any time soon.
Hezbollah, a Lebanese organisation that the US has classified as a terrorist organisation, has been firing more rockets into northern Israel in recent weeks.
One of the most significant trade waterways in the world, the Red Sea, has seen attacks on commercial boats by Houthi rebels from Yemen.
Iran supports Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
On Tuesday, Mr. Blinken held discussions in Israel that yielded some concrete outcomes.
He declared that the US and Israel had reached an agreement on a UN “assessment mission” that would serve as a prelude to enabling Palestinians to return to the northern Gaza areas that the Israeli operation had destroyed.
Mr. Blinken cautioned that their return would not occur “overnight” even from this location.
There is too much work to be done to guarantee that supporting infrastructure is in place and to remove unexploded ordinance and booby traps from the area.
Additionally, Mr. Blinken stated at the news conference that the International Court of Justice’s filings by South Africa alleging Israel was committing genocide were “meritless”.
However, he stated: “The daily toll on civilians in Gaza, particularly on children, is far too high.”
90% of the population still experiences acute food insecurity, according to UN statistics he referenced.
He also said, “For children, the effects of long periods without sufficient food can have lifelong consequences.”
“Gaza needs to get additional food, water, medication, and other necessities. After they get in Gaza, they must reach the people in need more skillfully.”