Blinken reports three visits to Israel resulted in gradual advancements in Gaza aid and civilian protection
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Thursday that persistent US pressure has led to gradual advancements from Israel in terms of protecting civilians and facilitating aid into Gaza.
Blinken highlighted that after each of his visits to Israel, there was a discernible shift in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government toward aligning with the US position.
During his initial trip following the October 7 Hamas attack, Blinken emphasized the urgency of providing aid to Gaza. Subsequently, aid started flowing after their departure, as he explained during a news conference at the State Department alongside UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
On his second visit, the focus was on advocating for “humanitarian pauses” to aid in hostage release and facilitate more assistance. Blinken noted that shortly after their departure, such humanitarian pauses were implemented.
During his latest visit to Israel last week, Blinken stated the importance of safeguarding civilians and urged the Israeli government to approach its offensive in south Gaza differently than it did in the north. He also underscored the ongoing necessity for continuous humanitarian aid.
Blinken acknowledged some notable strides in the initial days towards these objectives, stating, “What we’ve seen over the initial days is some important additional steps in the direction of doing just that.” However, he reiterated that a disparity persists between the “intent to protect civilians and the actual results that we’re seeing on the ground.”