GAZA STRIP: With starvation threatening in Gaza under siege, US Ambassador to the Middle East Antony Blinken made his way there on Wednesday to support international efforts to broker a ceasefire in the conflict.
Six months into the military campaign, worry around the world has grown. One of the most recent outbursts involved an Israeli attack on the Al-Shifa Hospital complex in Gaza City, which is home to thousands of patients and refugees.
Ninety individuals were killed in overnight explosions and fighting throughout the enclave, according to the Gaza health ministry, which estimated that close to 32,000 Palestinians had died overall.
After mediators turned over the group’s most recent request for a Gaza truce, a senior Hamas official stated on Wednesday that Israel’s response was unfavorable.
According to Hamas, Israel’s response to their proposed truce is unfavorable.
“Our brothers, the mediators, updated us on the occupation’s stance on the proposal on Tuesday night. In general, the response is unsatisfactory and fails to address the requests. Indeed, it revokes the authorizations that it had already granted to the mediators,” Osama Hamdan stated at a Beirut press conference.
He added that the inability to broker a hostage release in return for Palestinian captives and put an end to the bloodshed in Gaza was the fault of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration.
As part of a regional journey to discuss efforts to secure a Gaza truce that includes a stop in Israel, Blinken touched down in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
According to an AFP journalist on board, the US top diplomat landed in Jeddah and is scheduled to see Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Blinken is scheduled to depart for Egypt on Thursday; Egypt borders Gaza and has participated in past attempts at mediation. He will travel to Israel the next day on an unforeseen visit that coincides with deteriorating relations between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. Blinken’s journey to Israel was revealed by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller as he touched down in Saudi Arabia.
According to Miller, the top diplomat would talk with Israeli authorities about “the ongoing negotiations to secure the release of all hostages” as well as initiatives to increase assistance supplies to Gaza.
In the upcoming week, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will travel to Washington for discussions with Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin.
