Blinken urges Israel to reach ceasefire, allow more aid into Gaza after Sinwar death

CAIRO – 23 October 2024: US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken emphasized the importance of charting a new path forward in the post-conflict period that allows Palestinians to rebuild their lives and provides governance, security, and reconstruction for Gaza.

During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Blinken also underscored the need to capitalize on Israel’s killing of Yahya Sinwar, late Hamas leader, by securing the release of all captives and ending the war in Gaza in a way that provides lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians alike, Spokesperson for the US Department of State Matthew Miller said in a press release on Tuesday.

Blinken also emphasized the need for Israel to take additional steps to increase and sustain the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza and ensure that assistance reaches civilians throughout Gaza.

The two sides discussed Lebanon and ongoing efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution along the Blue Line that includes full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and allows civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes, Miller said.

They also discussed the need to deter further regional aggression from Iran and its proxies, including ongoing efforts by the US and its partners, the spokesman added.

WAR SHOULD END NOW

The US top diplomat told reporters during his current visit to Tel Aviv Wednesday that the war in Gaza should end now, adding that Israel needed to do more to allow in aid despite “progress.”

“Since October 7 a year ago, Israel has achieved most of its strategic objectives when it comes to Gaza... Now is the time to turn those successes into enduring, strategic success,” Blinken said, as quoted by AFP and Al Arabiya.

He added that on aid he saw “progress being made, which is good, but more progress needs to be made and, most critically, it needs to be sustained.”

Of Israel’s pledge to retaliate for Iran’s October 1 missile attack, the US secretary of state said: “It’s also very important that Israel respond in ways that do not create greater escalation.”

After Israel, Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia, which has put on hold talks towards a normalization deal with Israel until a Palestinian state is created.

The US diplomat urged Israel to seize what he described as an “incredible opportunity” to move toward a deal with Saudi Arabia.

Previous US efforts to end the Gaza war and contain the regional fallout have failed, as did a bid spearheaded by US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to secure a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon.