Blinken: gap remains between Israel’s intent to protect civilians and results
- After a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Washington, Blinken said it was ‘imperative that Israel put a premium on civilian protection’
- Also on Thursday Cameron, on his first visit to Washington since he was named foreign secretary, urged US lawmakers to approve fresh aid for Ukraine
There remains a gap between Israel’s intent to protect civilians and the results on the ground in Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday, adding that Washington talks to Israel on a regular basis about civilian protection, including as recently as Thursday.
“It remains imperative that Israel put a premium on civilian protection. And there does remain a gap between, exactly what I said when I was there, the intent to protect civilians and the actual results that we’re seeing on the ground,” Blinken said at a news conference in Washington following a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
Cameron on Thursday urged US lawmakers to approve fresh aid for Ukraine to help fund Kyiv’s battle against Russian forces.
“I’m not worried about the strength and unity and consensus and bravery of the Ukrainian people … I’m worried that we’re not going to do what we need to do,” Cameron told the Aspen Security Forum in the US capital.
“We’ve got to make sure we give them the weapons, the economic support, the moral support, the diplomatic support, but crucially, that military support that can make a difference.”
Cameron, the former British prime minister, was making his first visit to Washington since he was named to the post of foreign secretary.