Blinken: The US opposes the relocation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip

2024-01-07 20:45:43, Kosova & Bota CNA

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in meetings with Israeli officials this week, he will demand that more be done to avoid civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a press conference in Doha after meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Secretary Blinken said Palestinian civilians should be allowed to return to their homes and should not be pressured to leave the Strip. of Gaza.

At the joint press conference, Qatari Emir Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said the killing of a senior Hamas leader in an Israeli drone strike in Beirut had affected Doha's ability to mediate talks between Israeli negotiators. and the Palestinians. However, he said that Qatar will continue efforts to find a solution to the Hamas-Israel conflict.

Earlier on Sunday, he met with Jordan's king and foreign minister and visited a World Food Program warehouse in Amman as he continues a diplomatic mission in the Middle East to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from spilling over into Gaza. the whole region. Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced that it has completed the operation to destroy the military structures of Hamas in the north of Gaza, killing according to it about 8 thousand militants in that area and seizing tens of thousands of weapons and millions of documents.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Sunday with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in a diplomatic effort to find a solution to the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Mr Blinken is calling on Israel's Arab neighbors to play a role in the future of Gaza's post-war governance.

Mr. Blinken also visited a World Food Program warehouse where trucks are being loaded with aid to Gaza.

Jordan and other Arab countries have called for an immediate ceasefire since the conflict erupted in October.

"Turkey is ready to use its influence in the Middle East to reduce tensions and prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading," Secretary Blinken told reporters late Saturday after holding talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a staunch critic. of Israel's military actions in Gaza.

On Saturday, the American secretary held meetings with President Erdogan in Istanbul and then in Crete with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He launched a diplomatic mission to the Middle East this week as fears grow that Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza could turn into a wider conflict.

In a separate meeting with Mr. Blinken, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for "an immediate ceasefire" in Gaza and for the continued flow of humanitarian aid. According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Mr. Fidan also supported the immediate start of negotiations for a two-state solution.

The United States has sought lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. This includes achieving political rights for Palestinians, especially the creation of a Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel.

In another development from the battlefield, the Israeli army announced that it has completed the operation to destroy the military structures of Hamas in northern Gaza, killing according to them about 8 thousand militants in that area and seizing tens of thousands of weapons and millions of documents.

Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli army, told a news conference that forces would now be concentrated in southern and central Gaza, admitting that the operation would take time.

He said that Israel's military effort to eliminate Hamas from central and southern Gaza will be different from what was done in the north, noting that "the refugee camps are full of terrorists."

Likewise, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the war against Hamas "must not stop" until Israel achieves three main objectives: "the elimination of Hamas, the return of the hostages and the guarantee that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel." .

On the other hand, Israel and the militant group Hezbollah continued to exchange fire across the border of Lebanon. Air raid sirens went off across northern Israel as the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group said it fired more than 60 rockets at an Israeli military base.

Israel said it retaliated by striking a "terrorist cell responsible for the rocket launches". It also announced that it hit several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon./ VOA