Blinken Condemns High Palestinian Casualties in Gaza, Calls for Immediate Action
Secretary of State Antony Blinken unequivocally condemns the alarming number of Palestinian casualties, emphasizing the immense suffering endured by the people of Gaza in recent weeks
Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed a strong condemnation of the civilian casualties in Gaza on Friday, emphasizing the need for additional measures to reduce harm to Palestinian civilians. While acknowledging Israel's implementation of daily military pauses in specific parts of Northern Gaza and the establishment of two evacuation corridors, Blinken emphasized that further actions could and should be taken to protect Palestinian civilians.
The US envoy, upon leaving the Middle East earlier this week, has subtly adjusted his rhetoric to explicitly condemn the civilian casualties in Gaza and express the United States' expectations for the Israeli government. Nevertheless, he has refrained from directly criticizing the Israeli government's offensive, consistently affirming its right to self-defense.
An Israeli soldier is engaged in a ground invasion against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip on November 8, 2023. Please note that all Reuters photographs were reviewed by the IDF as part of the conditions of the embed, and no photos were removed. (Photo credit: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
The Biden administration has been privately alerted by American diplomats about the increasing anger towards the United States in the Arab world. Blinken, during a press availability in New Delhi after his extensive trip to various countries including Israel, Jordan, the West Bank, Turkey, Iraq, Japan, and South Korea, expressed concern over the high number of Palestinian casualties and the extensive suffering they have endured in recent weeks.
"We are committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure their safety and to enhance the aid directed towards them," he stated. "In pursuit of these goals, we will maintain ongoing discussions with Israel regarding the specific actions to be implemented," Blinken declared, refraining from providing further elaboration on the particulars of said actions.
Blinken outlined the American requirements for achieving a lasting and stable peace in Gaza during his visit to Tokyo on Wednesday. On Friday, he reaffirmed that progress had been made in establishing the fundamental principles for this objective.
According to Blinken, these principles include the prevention of forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, the cessation of using Gaza as a launching pad for terrorist and other hostile activities against Israel, the preservation of Gaza's territorial integrity, and a commitment to unified Palestinian land governance in both Gaza and the West Bank. He also mentioned that there were additional ideas proposed by the United States and supported by others, which could serve as a foundation for future actions.
"We have specific and tangible initiatives underway to enhance the number of trucks delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza," stated Blinken.
However, he acknowledged that "it is an ongoing process to transition from comprehension and agreement to actual execution, which is our current focus."
Blinken reaffirmed on Friday that the United States will persistently concentrate on repatriating our hostages and preventing the escalation of the conflict.
Addressing in India on Friday, Blinken acknowledged that there has been some advancement in the week following his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials in Tel Aviv. However, he emphasized that this is a gradual process, not an immediate solution.
The White House announced on Thursday that Israel has agreed to implement daily four-hour pauses in military operations in Northern Gaza. According to US officials, Blinken secured an initial agreement on the pauses during his meetings in Israel last Friday. However, shortly after the meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly expressed opposition to the idea, with speculations that these comments were meant for his domestic audience and war cabinet. One official remarked that the entire process feels incredibly difficult, akin to pulling teeth. On Saturday, Blinken held discussions with Arab counterparts in Jordan, where it became apparent that there was a significant divide between the United States and regional leaders regarding the issue of a ceasefire.
During the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting on Wednesday, there was collective endorsement for humanitarian pauses in Gaza. The purpose of these pauses is to expedite essential aid, enable civilian mobility, and secure the liberation of hostages.
In a subsequent press conference, Blinken emphasized that individuals advocating for an immediate ceasefire must clarify their proposed approach for addressing the potentially unfavorable outcome it may entail.
