US urges Israel to end Gaza conflict – DW – 10/23/2024
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel this Wednesday (10/23/2024) to take advantage of the opportunity of its success in destroying most of the capabilities of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip and leading to the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar. Take advantage. Long-term resolution of conflict.
As he prepared, he told reporters, “Now is the time to turn those successes into lasting strategic success. And there are really two things left to do: bringing the hostages home and ending the war with no knowledge of what happens next.” He will leave from Israel for Saudi Arabia on the next leg of his trip to the Middle East.
“Further progress is needed” in humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The Israeli campaign has devastated Gaza and forced much of the enclave’s population to abandon their homes and take refuge in temporary shelters. Blinken said Israel needs to do more to ensure adequate humanitarian supplies reach these people living in dire conditions.
Regarding this aid, the US diplomat indicated that “progress has been made, which is good, but more progress is needed, and above all (the aid) must be sustained.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not formulated any clear vision for Gaza after the war, except that Hamas’s military and governance capacity should be completely dismantled.
Blinken urges Israel to avoid ‘overstepping’ in its response to Iran
Blinken also urged Israel this Wednesday to avoid “escalating” in its response to Iran, which launched nearly 200 missiles against Israeli territory on October 1.
Israel is simultaneously facing Hamas in Gaza and the Lebanese Islamic movement Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday that it had killed Hashem Saffieddine, Hassan Nasrallah’s likely successor as Hezbollah leader, during a bombing south of Beirut on October 4.
Hezbollah has not confirmed the death of Saffieddin, who was one of the most important members of the Shura Council, the party’s highest body.
RR (Reuters/AFP/AP)