Blinken urges Israel to allow humanitarian pauses as Gaza death toll soars
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on the idea, however, saying the country’s military was continuing ‘full force’
- The top US diplomat is in the region for the 2nd time in less than a month to balance support for Israel with efforts to reduce the toll of the war on civilians
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he urged Israeli leaders on Friday to allow for humanitarian pauses in their war with Hamas in Gaza to enable aid to enter the Palestinian enclave and help the effort to secure the release of hostages.
But in a televised statement a short time later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on the idea, indicating any deal was far from being struck even though talks on an agreement would continue.
Blinken was in the Middle East for a second time in less than a month seeking to balance Washington support for Israel over a deadly October 7 Hamas attack with concern over civilian casualties that have soared under an Israeli bombardment.
While the Biden administration has maintained robust support for Israel, its rhetoric has increasingly shifted towards boosting humanitarian aid to Gaza, taking steps to avoid civilian deaths and setting up pauses in the fighting to facilitate work to free more than 240 hostages taken by Hamas.
Blinken said he had discussed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s war cabinet how, when and where pauses can be implemented and what understandings must be reached. He said Washington recognised this would take time and require coordination from international partners.