US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a detailed analysis of the situation in Gaza on Wednesday, calling for an end to the conflict while highlighting the progress made in humanitarian aid following the letter sent to Israeli authorities a year ago. month.
“Israel has achieved the strategic objectives it set for itself,” Blinken said, believing that “the time has come to end the war.” According to him, the Jewish state succeeded in dismantling the Hamas military organization and neutralizing its leaders responsible for the October 7 attacks.
The head of American diplomacy detailed the progress made following the letter co-signed with Secretary of Defense Austin: of the 15 measures requested, 12 have been implemented or are being implemented. However, three major challenges persist: The need to lift evacuation orders once military operations have ended to allow the return of displaced populations, the reestablishment of commercial convoys, currently hampered by problems of looting and the establishment of prolonged humanitarian pauses in large areas of Gaza. Blinken particularly emphasized the importance of extended breaks: “We need breaks of several days, not just a few hours as is the case now,” citing the success of the polio vaccination campaign which was able to reaching hundreds of thousands of children through these widespread interruptions of fighting. The secretary of state also criticized the international community’s “deafening silence” regarding Hamas, recalling that the organization has rejected several ceasefire and hostage release proposals, including an Israeli offer guaranteeing a safe passage for its militants out of Gaza in exchange for hostages. To end the conflict, Blinken identified two essential conditions: the release of the hostages, including seven Americans, and the establishment of a clear plan for the “post-war” guaranteeing that Hamas cannot regain control of Gaza. once Israeli forces are withdrawn. In the meantime, Washington will continue to monitor “daily” the implementation of humanitarian measures by Israel, he assured, while emphasizing that the dramatic situation in Gaza can only be fully resolved with the end of the conflict.
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