Blinken calls on Israel for “urgent” action against settler violence against Palestinians

The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenasked this Thursday Israel take action”urgent”to end settler violence against Palestinians in West Bank.

Blinken, who is in San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), made the request by telephone with Benny GantzIsraeli opposition leader who joined the prime minister’s war cabinet Benjamin Netanyahu.

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The head of American diplomacy “emphasized the urgent need to take affirmative action to reduce tensions in West Bankeven in the face of increasing levels of extremist settler violence“said the State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller.

Blinken also spoke with Gantz about ongoing diplomatic efforts to free hostages captured by Palestinian Islamist group militants. Hamas after his bloody attack on Israel on October 7, Gaza strip.

Israeli authorities say around 240 people were detained during the Hamas attack and around 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, says Israel’s bombings and ground retaliations have killed more than 11,500 people, also mostly civilians and including thousands of children.

The difference of LinkThe West Bank is largely under Israeli occupation, with autonomy limited by the Palestinian authoritywhose leaders oppose Hamas.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank say they have faced increasing harassment from Israeli settlers since the war.

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Gantz, a retired centrist general, agreed to serve in a war cabinet with Netanyahu, who had returned to power in a coalition with far-right parties that strongly support Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

U.S supported Israel’s right to respond to Hamas, but also called for greater efforts to protect civilians.

“We have seen too many Palestinian civilians die and we have always urged Israel to do everything possible to minimize civilian casualties.“Blinken told NBC News on Thursday.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.