Blinken's Visit to Israel Aims to Address the Dual Challenges of Supporting the IDF and Gaza Civilians
Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Israel aims to address the delicate balance between supporting the IDF and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, amidst international criticism and a rising civilian death toll
Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Friday to urge the Israeli government to address international criticism and mounting civilian casualties caused by their ongoing offensive in Gaza. Meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials, Blinken aims to find a balance between supporting Israel's defense efforts and calling for the protection of civilians.
Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday morning, accompanied by the newly confirmed US Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew. Prior to leaving Washington, DC on Thursday, Blinken addressed the press and mentioned his intention to discuss with the Israeli government the "ongoing campaign against the Hamas terrorist organization" and "necessary measures to safeguard civilians."
He also intends to discuss, as he did in past trips, the hostages being held by Hamas and the prevention of a wider regional conflict.
President Joe Biden speaks at Dutch Creek Farms in Northfield, Minn., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Andrew Harnik/AP
Biden and his team have unequivocally cautioned Israel that the civilian hardship in Gaza will diminish the public's backing for the war against Hamas. Blinken refrained from elaborating on the specific measures to enhance civilian protection, and he also evaded giving a direct response when questioned about Israel's exercise of restraint during its offensive thus far. Rather, he attributed the blame for this situation to Hamas, condemning the terrorist organization for cynically and monstrously deploying civilians as shields and integrating their fighters within civilian infrastructure.
Blinken expressed his strong emotional response when witnessing a Palestinian child being rescued from the ruins of a destroyed building, emphasizing that this affects him equally regardless of whether it is a child from Israel or any other place. He emphasized the duty to take action and assured that it will be fulfilled.
Internally, US officials have privately cautioned Israeli officials about the detrimental effects of these images on their pursuit of strategic goals, urging them to allow humanitarian aid and taking into account the increasing and louder international condemnation.
A source familiar with the situation stated that there is a constant concern about the lack of time and opportunity to pursue personal interests due to the continuous release of distressing images depicting the ongoing death and devastation in Gaza. This reference draws parallels to the experiences of the United States in Mosul, Aleppo, and Fallujah. The message highlighting this issue is reiterated consistently across various platforms throughout the day. Specifically, Arab partners have strongly criticized Israel's offensive in Gaza, leading Jordan and Bahrain to recall their ambassadors.
During his conversations in Israel, Blinken emphasized the crucial aspects of the ongoing departure of civilians and the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid. On Thursday, he stated that the focus remains on ensuring the smooth departure of civilians from Gaza, including American citizens. Departures are anticipated to persist in the upcoming days as civilians are able to leave Gaza through the Rafah Gate to Egypt, with departures commencing on Wednesday.
Getting to that point was a laborious process that took weeks and involved substantial high-level pressure from the US on the parties involved.
Although a consistent flow of assistance-carrying trucks has managed to enter in the past week, it has been emphasized by US officials, including Blinken, that it falls far short of what is needed. Israeli officials have further restricted the entry of fuel into Gaza, asserting that Hamas has stolen significant amounts and refused to distribute it to the civilian population.
Aid and medical workers have emphasized the critical requirement for fuel to ensure the continuous operation of hospitals. Blinken is expected to address this matter during his meetings on Friday, as reported by a reliable source to CNN. The issue has already been brought up at higher levels.
During his visit to Israel, Blinken has identified "the day after" as his third priority, focusing on establishing the necessary conditions for a lasting and sustainable peace, as well as security for both Israelis and Palestinians. He communicated this objective on Thursday.
The US's highest-ranking diplomat has consistently emphasized that there can be no restoration of the pre-existing state with Hamas, while Israeli authorities have stated their intention to eradicate the group from Gaza.
During his testimony in Congress on Monday, Blinken asserted that Israel does not seek to govern or have authority over Gaza, highlighting that this is not their objective nor is it something they would endorse.
"In the future, it would be ideal for a reenergized and efficient Palestinian Authority to assume governance and, eventually, security control over Gaza," he suggested.
"The feasibility of achieving this objective through a single step is uncertain and requires consideration. Alternatively, temporary arrangements involving other regional nations or international organizations could be explored to ensure security and effective governance."
During his discussions in Israel, Blinken emphasized the importance of achieving a two-state solution over time. However, the current offensive in Gaza and the increasing incidence of Israeli settler violence in the West Bank have made this goal appear more distant. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller expressed the US government's deep concern regarding settler violence in the West Bank to the Israeli government.
"We consider it highly destabilizing, not to mention detrimental to Israel's long-term security and extremely harmful to the Palestinian population in the West Bank," he stated during a department briefing.
"We have strongly conveyed to them that this is unacceptable and must cease immediately. Those responsible for these actions must be held accountable," Miller emphasized.
