US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli leaders on Friday to call for more to be done to protect Palestinian civilians during Israel’s war to destroy Hamas.
After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said he discussed the idea of “humanitarian pauses” to secure the release of hostages and allow aid to be distributed to the besieged population of Gaza.
“We believe that each of these efforts will be facilitated by humanitarian breaks, arrangements on the ground that increase security for civilians and enable more efficient and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid,” Blinken told reporters.
He reiterated Washington’s longstanding support for the final recognition of a Palestinian state:
“Two states for two peoples. Again, this is the only way to ensure lasting security for Jewish and democratic Israel.”
Netanyahu, however, warned that there can be no “temporary truce” in Gaza unless Hamas releases the estimated 241 Israeli and foreign hostages it took during its October 7 attacks, AFP reports.
