Blinken Urges Ceasefire in Gaza, Pressures Israel on Aid as Violence Escalates
Amidst escalating violence on both the Gaza and Lebanon fronts, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Tuesday, pressing for a ceasefire in the year-long Gaza conflict and urging Israel to increase humanitarian aid to the besieged territory, Al Jazeera reports.
The visit came as Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group, launched a barrage of missiles towards Tel Aviv, temporarily shutting down Ben Gurion Airport where Blinken landed. Hours earlier, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s holiday home.
During his meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken emphasized the need to “capitalize” on the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, urging the Israeli leader to use this momentum to secure the release of hostages and achieve a lasting end to the conflict. The US official also stressed the need for Israel to expand and sustain the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Netanyahu’s office, while acknowledging the potential positive impact of Sinwar’s killing on hostage negotiations and achieving the war’s objectives, did not mention a possible ceasefire. The war has left Gaza largely in ruins, with the vast majority of its 2.3 million residents displaced.
Blinken and Netanyahu also discussed implementing a 2006 UN resolution aimed at restoring security and calm along the Israel-Lebanon border, a resolution that has been stalled for years. However, Hezbollah has ruled out entering negotiations with Israel while fighting continues.
The backdrop of violence serves as a stark reminder of the difficulty in achieving a breakthrough. Former Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin expressed hope that Blinken’s visit would at least “contribute to the option of a ceasefire.”
Beyond Israel, Blinken is scheduled to visit Jordan on Wednesday to discuss humanitarian aid for Gaza.
The escalating violence on both fronts has resulted in casualties on both sides. Hezbollah claims that 18 people, including four children, were killed in an overnight Israeli attack near a hospital in southern Beirut. Meanwhile, Israel declared a state of emergency in the Tel Aviv area after a man was injured by falling missile fragments.
