US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in remarks on Wednesday, urged for an immediate resolution to the conflict in Gaza and emphasized the necessity for Israel to act cautiously to prevent further tensions with Iran.
Israel, embroiled in battles with both Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, has been clear in its determination to respond to Iran’s missile strike on October 1.
In Lebanon, state-run media reported that Tyre, a coastal city, was hit by an Israeli drone strike following the military’s warning for residents to evacuate ahead of planned operations targeting Hezbollah strongholds.
This warning triggered a mass exodus from Tyre, a once-thriving city on the Mediterranean. AFPTV footage showed thick black smoke billowing from the city after the attack.
Head of Tyre’s disaster management unit, Mortada Mhanna, described the situation as dire, stating, “The situation is very bad, we’re evacuating people.” Bilal Kashmar, the media officer for the unit, added, “You could say that the entire city of Tyre is being evacuated.”
This visit marked Blinken’s 11th to the region since the onset of the Gaza war and his first since violence between Israel and Hezbollah escalated into a full-scale war late last month.
The conflict in Gaza began with Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, a devastating attack that left 1,206 people dead, the majority of whom were civilians, based on an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
In retaliation, Israel’s military offensive has claimed the lives of 42,718 people in Gaza, primarily civilians, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, figures the United Nations has accepted as reliable.
Blinken, before departing Israel after meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials, remarked, “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.” On humanitarian efforts, Blinken acknowledged some progress in aid reaching Gaza but stressed, “More progress needs to be made and, most critically, it needs to be sustained.”
With regard to Israel’s planned response to Iran’s missile strike, Blinken urged caution, saying, “It’s also very important that Israel respond in ways that do not create greater escalation.”
He will next visit Saudi Arabia, where efforts to normalize relations with Israel have stalled, with Saudi officials insisting that a Palestinian state must be established first.
Blinken encouraged Israel to seize what he called an “incredible opportunity” to move towards a deal with Saudi Arabia.
Previous attempts by the US to end the Gaza conflict and contain its wider regional impact have not succeeded, including efforts led by President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron to negotiate a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon.
During his meeting with Netanyahu on Tuesday, Blinken stressed the significance of taking advantage of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death in Gaza to move toward a ceasefire. Sinwar, the architect behind the October 7 attack, was killed in an Israeli airstrike.
While Netanyahu celebrated the killing of Sinwar, he also acknowledged that the war was not yet over, though he admitted it could mark the beginning of the end.
Hamas militants also took 251 hostages into Gaza during the October 7 attack, and 97 remain in captivity, with the Israeli military reporting that 34 of them are believed to be dead.
In discussions with Blinken, Netanyahu mentioned that Sinwar’s death could positively impact the efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
Meanwhile, Blinken pushed for additional humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, where tens of thousands of civilians are trapped amidst heavy fighting.
The situation in northern Gaza has been particularly critical as Israel’s ongoing ground and air offensive seeks to prevent Hamas fighters from regrouping. The only hospital still functioning in the northern region, Kamal Adwan Hospital, has run out of medicine and supplies.
The hospital’s director, expressed despair,Hossam Abu Safia, saying, “People are being killed in the streets, and we can’t help them. Bodies are lying on the streets.”
As the conflict in Gaza rages on, Israel has also been escalating its military operations in Lebanon, shifting focus to its northern border in response to increasing attacks from Hezbollah.
Since September 23, Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hezbollah positions across Lebanon, with ground troops now involved in the fight.
Yhis surge in hostilities has resulted in the deaths of at least 1,552 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Hezbollah responded to Israeli attacks on Wednesday by launching rockets at an Israeli military intelligence base near Tel Aviv.
On Tuesday, the Israeli military announced it had killed senior Hezbollah cleric Hashem Safieddine, tipped to succeed the group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, in an airstrike three weeks prior.
While Hezbollah has not confirmed Safieddine’s death, a source close to the group revealed that he has been out of contact since the strike. Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi declared, “We have reached Nasrallah, his replacement and most of Hezbollah’s senior leadership.”
The Israeli military also struck southern Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, on Tuesday, prompting further evacuations from the area.
