In his most important visit to the region since the start of the war 28 days ago, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that “Israel not only has the right but the obligation to defend itself so that the October 7 attack does not occur.” happen again” and revealed that they have provided advice “that only the best of friends can offer on how to minimize civilian deaths (in the Gaza Strip) and at the same time take down Hamas terrorists.”
At the war cabinet meeting, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Blinken that “without the release of those kidnapped (241), there will be no end to the fighting in Gaza.” And he added that Israel is not opposed to the increase in the number of trucks (today around a hundred each day) with water, medicine and food arriving in the Palestinian enclave, but maintains the fuel veto. In this sense, he presented Intelligence reports to Blinken on how Hamas stole fuel and has more than half a million liters under Shifa Hospital for “terrorist and non-civilian uses.” Blinken did not doubt it, but he considers it necessary for him to be able to enter as required by the UN for the operation of hospitals.
“From this tragedy, a better tomorrow must emerge for Palestinians and Israelis and the entire region,” Blinken said, before mentioning “important steps” on the path to a future of hope. First, prevent the war from spreading to other arenas by clarifying that the US will continue to respond to attacks by Iran’s militias in the region.
The second requirement refers to the Gazans in an unprecedented military offensive in response to the attack by Hamas, whose Government indicates that it has caused more than 9,200 deaths, including civilians and militiamen. “We must do more to protect Palestinian civilians. In the campaign to defeat Hamas, the how is important. It matters because it is the right and legal thing to do and because if we fail to do so we are playing into the hands of Hamas and other terrorist groups,” he said. Blinken. He said, “Hamas cynically and monstrously uses Palestinian civilians as human shields by placing its command centers, weapons, ammunition in residential buildings, schools, mosques and hospitals, but they do not have to suffer the consequences of brutality and inhumanity.” of Hamas”. In this sense, he emphasized President Joe Biden’s message that Israel fights within the framework of International Law.
In the afternoon, the Palestinian Red Crescent (MLRP) denounced the attack on an ambulance in front of the Shifa hospital in which its “colleagues were miraculously saved.” Hamas said the attack caused “dozens of deaths.” According to Hamas, the airstrike against ambulances caused several deaths. The Israeli military indicated that “a number of terrorists were killed in an attack on an ambulance that forces identified as being used by a Hamas terrorist cell in the vicinity of their position in the combat zone.”
The Pentagon has confirmed that reconnaissance drones are flying over Gaza in efforts to free hostages. “We are thinking every moment of our hostages. So many Israelis, Americans and other citizens, and we are determined to do everything possible to bring them back, safe and sound,” Blinken said, estimating that the “humanitarian pauses” can contribute to the negotiation for them. He said it at the Defense headquarters in Tel Aviv not far from the so-called Kidnapped Square where families condition the humanitarian truce on their own being released. “It cannot be that Gaza receives aid and our people are forgotten without the International Red Cross visiting them. We will do whatever it takes to get Liri and the rest back,” says Israeli Shira about her kidnapped 18-year-old daughter. by Hamas. She also sends a message to her government to prioritize the release of those kidnapped over the dismantling of the armed wing of Hamas.
Israel has announced that the ground incursion that began a week ago under the massive support of aerial fire and artillery “continues its course as expected with the destruction of terrorist infrastructure such as tunnels and the death of hundreds of terrorists.” On their way to the mined gates of Gaza, almost 30 soldiers have died in ambushes and attacks by militants who in many cases appear from tunnels. “Gaza will be a curse in the history of Israel,” warned the spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, Abu Obeida, predicting a return “in black bags” for many in uniform.
On his tour in the region, Blinken has also spoken with Israeli and Arab leaders about the Gaza Strip in the day after. Today, he ruled out two scenarios: the Palestinian enclave cannot remain under Hamas control and Israel cannot and does not want to control the territory from which it withdrew in 2005.
The Secretary of State also met with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with one eye on the south (Gaza) and the other on the north (Lebanon). However, the premier rejected the possibility of any “temporary truce” without the release of the kidnapped hostages. “Israel rejects a temporary truce that does not include the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu declared after meeting with Blinken at a military base in Tel Aviv.
Quoted by the newspaper Maariv, an Israeli officer draws a difference between the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, who does not forget what happened in the 2006 war, and that of Hamas, Yahia Sinwar. “Nasrallah does have pragmatic considerations and does not like receiving coffins of his own in Beirut. Sinwar does not care that all Gazans die if he becomes the modern Saladin.”