highlights
US Secretary of State reached Israel for the 7th time.
Talked to Israeli PM Netanyahu on the issue of war.
Said- It is very important to reduce stress.
Tel Aviv. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli PM Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Israel Katz on January 9 at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv. This was his fifth visit after the Hamas attacks on October 7. According to news agency AP, Blinken asked Israeli PM Netanyahu to work with moderate Palestinian leaders for post-war plans with Gaza. He held talks with the War Cabinet on many important issues related to the Israel-Hamas war. Taking America’s side, he said that a reconstituted authority should return to Gaza.
Blinken said on Tuesday, “Israel must stop taking steps that undermine the ability of Palestinians to effectively govern themselves.” The authority was ousted from Gaza after Hamas took over in 2007. According to ANI, during this visit, Blinken also met Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Meeting the Israeli President, he also shared information about the talks held with Turkish and Arab leaders on war-affected areas.
International Court will hear this week
They also discussed this week’s upcoming hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on South Africa’s genocide charges against Israel in its war against Hamas. The two also discussed hostages and had a “substantive” discussion on what Gaza would look like after Hamas is ousted from power.
At his meeting, Katz stressed that bringing hostages home, returning displaced Israelis to their communities in the south, and restoring a sense of security are possible only if Hamas is defeated and Hezbollah withdraws from the border area in Lebanon.
Tension may increase in other areas also
As fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon escalates, US officials have warned of the possibility of war spreading into Gaza. In Qatar on Sunday, Blinken said this is a moment of deep tension in the region. This is a conflict that can easily transform, leading to even more insecurity and even more suffering.
The White House has also sent other senior officials to try to find diplomatic means to prevent war between Israel and Hezbollah. Biden dispatched special envoy to the region, Amos Hochstein, as Washington stepped up its diplomatic engagement to defuse rising tensions between Israel and Iran’s Lebanese proxy.
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Tag: Hamas attack on Israel, israel news, Israel-Palestine conflict, United States of america
first published : 10 January 2024, 03:08 IST
