Israel Continues Bombing Gaza as Blinken Meets Palestinian Leader
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories — Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza persist as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with the head of the Palestinian Authority in an effort to address the escalating crisis. The United States hopes that the Palestinian Authority can assume control of the coastal territory once the conflict ends.
Amid tight security in Ramallah, protesters greeted Blinken with signs reading Stop the genocide, Free Palestine, and Blinken out before his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
The ongoing Gaza war, which is now the bloodiest in history, has claimed the lives of over 23,000 individuals, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
Global concern has mounted over the growing humanitarian crisis, prompting Blinken to advocate for the protection of Gaza civilians while reiterating US support for Israel. Urging steps to minimize the civilian death toll, Blinken stated during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Dire shortages brought by an Israeli siege mean the daily toll on civilians in Gaza, particularly children, is far too high.
Meanwhile, the Gaza war rages on, with the health ministry reporting 70 people killed and 130 wounded in overnight attacks, exacerbating the situation for the 2.4 million displaced and vulnerable individuals as declared by the United Nations.
Hassan Kaskin, 55, shared the heartbreaking reality faced by Gazans, stating, We have lost our money, our houses, our jobs. We are losing our youths as well. We’ve sacrificed our children for our homeland.
Blinken’s visit to the Middle East marks his fourth tour since the war’s outbreak. He previously visited Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The United States envisions a post-war scenario in which a reformed Palestinian Authority governs both Gaza and towns in the West Bank currently under Israeli occupation since 1967.
Blinken emphasized the importance of finding a peaceable resolution, stating that Israel must be a partner to Palestinian leaders who are willing to lead their people in living side by side in peace. He also urged the Palestinian Authority to reform itself and improve its governance.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, known for leading the most right-wing government in Israel’s history, has shown little interest in reviving negotiations for a Palestinian state. However, a post-war plan proposed by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant suggests the establishment of local civil committees to govern Gaza once Hamas has been dismantled.
Although Blinken declined to disclose whether Netanyahu’s views have evolved during their discussions, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh expressed openness to the idea of a unified Palestinian administration encompassing both Gaza and the West Bank.
Blinken also called for urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza, including increased supplies of food, water, and medicine to alleviate the dire situation. Currently, only limited relief supplies are reaching Gaza through Egypt. Desperate Gazans were recently seen climbing onto a truck carrying food, tossing it to the crowd below in an attempt to secure sustenance.
Israeli Army spokesman Daniel Hagari assured that Israel is ready to facilitate as much humanitarian aid as possible, working in coordination with the international community.
As the Gaza war unfolds, fears of an intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran-backed armed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen have heightened. Defence Minister Gallant conveyed the critical necessity of increasing pressure on Iran to prevent further regional escalation during his discussion with Blinken.
Concerns over the safety of Red Sea shipping lanes have also arisen amidst attacks on container ships conducted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. In response, the United States has established a multinational naval task force to safeguard this vital maritime route.
With the situation in Gaza continuing to deteriorate, the urgent need for international intervention is increasingly evident. The world waits to see if diplomatic efforts, like Blinken’s visit, can lead to a cessation of hostilities and the delivery of vital aid to the war-stricken region.
