United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday called on Israel to take advantage of its military achievements in Gaza to end the conflict and avoid further escalation with the Iranian regime.
“Now is the time to end the conflict in Gaza,” Blinken declared after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Furthermore, he stressed the need for the Israeli Defense Forces to respond cautiously.
“It is very important that Israel responds in ways that do not create further escalation,” the US official said.
Blinken, on his 11th visit to the region since the start of the war, highlighted that Israel has met most of its “strategic objectives” in Gaza and that “now is the time to turn those successes into a lasting strategic victory.” He also expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, stating that although progress has been made in delivering aid, “we need more progress and, most importantly, it must be sustained.”
During his meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken urged Israel to capitalize on the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to move toward a cessation of hostilities.
“Sinwar’s death could have a positive impact on the return of the hostages,” Netanyahu said. However, he clarified that the end of Sinwar does not mean the end of the war, although “it could be the beginning of the end.”
The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the kidnapping of 251 people, of whom 97 are still held in Gaza, including 34 who the Israeli military said were reportedly dead.
Netanyahu told Blinken that Sinwar’s death “could have a positive impact on the return of the hostages,” according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.
Finally, Blinken reiterated the need to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, especially in the north, where Israel has launched a ground and air offensive to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping.
During his visit to Israel, the US Secretary of State also met with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, with whom he spoke “about ongoing efforts to prevent further regional aggression by Iran,” according to the Department spokesperson. of State Matthew Miller.
Gallant assured after his meeting with Blinken that “the United States’ position with Israel after our attack on Iran will reinforce regional deterrence and weaken the ‘axis of evil’.”
In April, the Iranian regime responded to the death of several Revolutionary Guard generals in one of its diplomatic headquarters in Damascus by Israel by launching a wave of missiles and drones against Israeli territory.
To this, Israel responded on April 19 by launching several missiles against the Iranian province of Isfahan.
On October 1, Iran again attacked Israel with 180 ballistic missiles, this time in retaliation for the death in Tehran of the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, and the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, in a bombing in Lebanon, to which the Jewish State has promised to respond.
On October 5, the head of the United States Central Command, General Michael Erik Kurilla, traveled to Israel to participate in coordinating the Israeli response to the Iranian attack.
After Israel, Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia, which has suspended talks for 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 towards an agreement with Saudi Arabia.
U.S. attempts to end the war in Gaza and limit its regional effects have been unsuccessful, as has the joint effort by President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron to secure a temporary truce in Lebanon.
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