Blinken Pushes for Humanitarian Aid in Gaza During Israel Visit By The Media Line Staff US Secretary of State Antony Blinken initiated discussions with Israeli leaders on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip while urging Hamas, the armed Palestinian group that governs Gaza, to agree to a hostage release […]
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The Media Line: Blinken Pushes for Humanitarian Aid in Gaza During Israel Visit
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Blinken Pushes for Humanitarian Aid in Gaza During Israel Visit
By The Media Line Staff
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken initiated discussions with Israeli leaders on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip while urging Hamas, the armed Palestinian group that governs Gaza, to agree to a hostage release and cease-fire deal.
After visits to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Amman, Jordan earlier this week, Blinken has now arrived in Israel for the final leg of his Middle East tour. This marks his seventh visit to the region since the conflict escalated on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel.
Blinken’s primary goal is to persuade the Israeli government to implement specific measures that will enhance the flow of aid to Gaza, a densely populated area in dire need of assistance. “Even as we’re working with relentless determination to get the cease-fire that brings the hostages home, we also have to be focused on people in Gaza for suffering in this crossfire of Hamas’ making,” Blinken remarked during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv.
Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel left 1,200 people dead and 250 others kidnapped. In response, Israel has conducted heavy bombardments on Gaza, which local health officials say has resulted in over 34,000 Palestinian deaths. The United Nations has warned of a looming famine affecting more than a million people due to the six-month-long conflict.