Blinken lands in Israel to discuss protection of civilians in Gaza  

GOOBJOOG NEWS | TEL AVIV: US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv early Friday and is expected to meet Israeli authorities amid steadily mounting civilian death toll in Gaza.

Blinken, who has travelled to Israel twice over the last two months is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials as the international community calls for protection of civilians.  

While addressing journalists in Washington DC Thursday ahead of his departure, Blinken said he will engage the Israeli government over “the ongoing campaign against the Hamas terrorist organization” and “steps that need to be taken to protect civilians.”

He added that he also intends to discuss the fate of hostages being held by Hamas and the prevention of a wider regional conflict.

“When I see a Palestinian child, a boy or girl, pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building, that hits me in the gut as much as seeing a child in Israel or anywhere else. “This is something that we have an obligation to respond to, and we will,” Blinken said.

Continued Criticism

Arab countries have continued their criticism of Israel’s campaign in Gaza and Jordan and Bahrain have recalled their ambassadors.

Blinken will also discuss the continued flow of that humanitarian aid and ongoing departure of civilians from Gaza through the Rafah Gate to Egypt which started on Wednesday.

Trucks carrying humanitarian supplies have also been able to enter Gaza but US officials have stressed that more aid is needed to meet the needs of Gaza civilians affected by the war.

However, Israeli officials have limited the entrance of fuel into Gaza, arguing that Hamas has stolen large quantities and withheld it from civilians.

• Additional reporting by agencies.