US calls on Israel not to resume offensive in Gaza unless it protects civilians

The Secretary of State for U.S, Anthony BlinkenThis Thursday, he asked Israel to refrain from resuming the military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Link unless he lays out a concrete plan to protect Palestinian civilians during a press conference in Tel Aviv.

“Before Israel resumes its military operations, it must implement a humanitarian protection plan for civilians“Blinken said, emphasizing that U.S “He doesn’t want this to happen again in the south of the Palestinian enclave.”the massive loss of civilian life and displacement (of people), on the scale that occurred in the north”.

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The US official explained that Israel must implement a plan that includes “the precise designation of areas in the center and south of Link where civilians can be safe and out of the line of fire”, which prevents massive internal displacement and damage to essential infrastructure, such as hospitals, energy generators and water suppliers.

He also advocated that Israel allow the nearly 1.7 million Palestinians displaced in the south of the Strip the possibility of returning to the north.

“All of this can be done so that Israel continues to achieve its objectives (…) as it has one of the most sophisticated armies in the world. Is capable of neutralizing the threat posed Hamaswhile minimizing harm to women and children“Blinken said, assuring that the Israeli leaders he met during his visit agreed with this approach.

Blinken arrived in Israel this Thursday to make an official visit, as he has done repeatedly since the start of the war with the Islamic group Hamas, the October 7th.

In a meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahuassured Blinken that as soon as the truce ends – which began on November 24 with the aim of recovering hostages captured by Hamas – “plans to continue the war”.

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“Israel has the right to do everything in its power to ensure that the massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th is not repeated.”on Israeli territory, but“the way Israel defends itself is important“Blinken stressed.

“It is imperative that Israel acts in accordance with international law and the laws of war, which apply even when fighting a terrorist group, which respects nothing” he added.

Furthermore, Blinken defended an extension of the truce to allow more humanitarian aid to enter the Strip, which he guarantees was “insufficient” until now.

The Secretary of State, who highlighted the importance of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that includes the creation of a Palestinian State, called for a meeting with the president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbasto reform the institution that governs small areas of the West Bank to regain credibility and popularity.

Blinken expressed concern about the growing wave of violence in the occupied West Bank, especially attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinians, as well as the Israeli policy of expanding settlements in that territory.

Meanwhile, he called on Hamas to immediately release all hostages, not use civilians as shields, lay down their weapons and renounce the objective of destroying Israel.

SEE TOO: The hostage who escaped captivity in Gaza and wandered for 4 days before being returned to Hamas

Blinken’s visit coincides with the seventh day of a truce between Israel and Hamas brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, through an agreement that includes the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip.

The truce marked a pause in the war that erupted on October 7 following an attack by the armed wing of Hamas that included the launch of thousands of rockets into Israel and the infiltration of some 3,000 militiamen who massacred some 1,200 people and kidnapped others. 240 in Israeli villages.

Since then, until the day the truce began, Israeli forces maintained a relentless air, land and sea offensive on the Palestinian enclave that left more than 15,000 dead, thousands more buried under the rubble and a serious crisis humanitarian crisis due to the collapse of hospitals and the shortage of housing, drinking water, food, medicine and electricity.

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.