Blinken insists to Israel his opposition to a large-scale operation in Rafah
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, spoke during the early hours of the morning with the Israeli Minister Benny Gantz, to whom he reiterated the US opposition to a large-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah. Blinken has reiterated to the Israeli minister the importance of increasing the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza, for which the reopening of the Rafah border crossing is vital.
According to a statement from the US State Department, Blinken and Gantz “discussed the latest efforts to achieve a ceasefire as part of an agreement to free the hostages and to prevent the conflict from spreading throughout the region.” In addition, Blinken reminded Gantz “of the president’s position [Joe Biden] about a large-scale military operation in Rafah.” On Friday, the UN International Court of Justice ordered Israel to stop the offensive that began at the beginning of the month in the city, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are crowded.
Biden has expressed on several occasions his opposition to an assault on the last major city of Gaza, without a credible plan to protect civilians, something that, he claims, the Israeli authorities have not presented. On May 10, Israel began a partial operation in the city, which it considers the last stronghold of Hamas. In its offensive, which has since caused the flight of 800,000 Palestinians, Israel has closed the Rafah border crossing. He insists that he cannot end his operation in Gaza, whose objective is to “eradicate” Hamas, without entering this city in the south of the Strip.
During the conversation, according to the note, Blinken “emphasized the importance of increasing levels of humanitarian aid in Gaza.” In this sense, the head of American diplomacy insisted to the Israeli minister on “the importance of Israel and Egypt concluding their talks to reopen the Rafah crossing as soon as possible,” through which most of the humanitarian aid that has entered entered. in the Palestinian enclave in the seven long months of war.
Although it does not give details about the conversation, the State Department note adds that both leaders also spoke about the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, and the need to reduce tension in the West Bank. Finally, they also commented on “the US vision for lasting peace and security for Israel through greater integration in the region and emphasized the importance for Israel’s security of planning for the post-conflict period in Gaza.”
