Blinken aims to manage the Israel-Hamas conflict; holds meetings with leaders from the Middle East in Jordan.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Jordan to hold discussions with important leaders from the Middle East region.
in an attempt to control an increase
Blinken has been in the Middle East since Friday, attempting to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict.
On Saturday, Blinken has plans to hold meetings with Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and representatives from the UN Relief and Works Agency. In the afternoon, he will also meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, as well as regional allies like Jordanian Foreign Minister Aymam Safadi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
Blinken embarked on his journey on Friday, making a visit to Israel. This marks his third visit to Israel since the outbreak of war following Hamas’ violent terrorist attacks on October 7th.left hundreds deadtwo-state solution” was the only path towards lasting peace.
He restated the United States’ backing of Israel, stating that the nation has the authority to protect itself. However, he emphasized that a “two-state solution” remains the sole route to achieving enduring harmony.
humanitarian pause”
Efforts were necessary in order to increase the amount of aid being delivered to Palestinian civilians, as concerns over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza continue to rise.
The media office in Gaza, run by Hamas, reported that Ismail Haniyeh, the exiled leader, was struck by an airstrike on Saturday morning while in the Shati refugee camp located on the northern part of Gaza City. There is currently no information available on the extent of damage or any injuries, and there has been no response yet.
According to a Senior Hamas representative named Ghazi Hamad, The Associated Press was informed that Haniyeh’s two sons were occupying the house.
The house is situated in a cramped pathway within the refugee camp, now a densely populated area in Gaza City that has developed over time. Haniyeh, once an assistant to the late Ahmed Yassin, founder of Hamas who died in an Israeli airstrike in 2004, has been living in exile since 2019.
There are hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who are still residing in the city and throughout northern Gaza.
According to Israel, Hamas has a significant presence of military infrastructure in the city. a wide array of trains and rail systems, and a variety of transportation options
This includes an intricate network of subterranean passageways, a diverse selection of trains and railway systems, and various choices for transportation.
The airstrikes by the military are aimed at Hamas, who are known to place civilians in harm’s way by operating in close proximity to them. These attacks also target bunkers and command centers.
Israeli forces have surrounded the city and are advising civilians to move south to avoid becoming involved in the conflict.
Despite being warned, Israel has persisted in attacking the south, claiming to target Hamas affiliates, however, the bombings have resulted in the deaths of entire families.
On Saturday, Raed Mattar reported from a school in Khan Younis, where he had taken refuge after escaping from the north at the beginning of the war. He stated that he frequently heard explosions, which he believed were caused by airstrikes.
He stated that individuals never rest and the sound of blasts continues incessantly.
The issue of Gaza is primarily a result of Israel’s actions.
have entered Gaza.
Approximately 1.5 million individuals in Gaza, which makes up 70% of the total population, have evacuated their residences, as reported by the United Nations. The Israeli armed forces have confirmed that they have initiated a ground operation in Gaza.
We are currently active in the southern region.
A specialized group of engineers and soldiers is currently engaged in the task of safely removing dangerous traps from various structures.
In other areas, clashes persisted along Israel’s northern boundary on Saturday morning. The Israeli military reported targeting militant groups in Lebanon who were attempting to attack Israel, as well as a Hezbollah lookout point.
During the war, there has been frequent exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, a supporter of Hamas, along the border of Lebanon, causing concerns about the possibility of a new conflict emerging in that region.
Apart from delivering assistance, permitting the exit of foreigners, and freeing hostages, Blinken is aiming to persuade Jordan and other Arab countries to contemplate the potential fate of Gaza in the event that Israel manages to overthrow Hamas.
Until now, Arab leaders have refused to heed American recommendations for them to take on a more prominent role in addressing the crisis. They have expressed anger over the number of civilians killed in Israeli military actions, but they see Gaza as primarily an issue created by Israel.
More than
So far, 9,200 Palestinians in Gaza have lost their lives.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported a total of over 3,600 Palestinian children among those killed, but did not specify the number of civilian casualties versus combatants.
Over 1,400 individuals have lost their lives on the Israeli side, primarily innocent civilians who were casualties of Hamas’ first strike. Despite efforts to intercept them, rockets launched by Gaza militants continue to cause turmoil for millions of people and have resulted in approximately 250,000 evacuations.
24 Israeli soldiers have lost their lives in Gaza during the ground operation.
As the attack on the heavily populated Gaza City persists, the overall death toll is expected to significantly increase.
According to Wael Abou Omar, the Hamas representative for the Rafah border crossing, a total of 386 Palestinians with dual citizenship and injuries left Gaza for Egypt on Friday. This brings the overall number of individuals who have left since Wednesday to 1,115.
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Source: cbsnews.com