[ad_1]
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv, reiterating that Israel has the right the defend itself, while highlighting the need to “substantially and immediately increase the sustainable humanitarian assistance” into Gaza.
“We stand strongly with an behind Israel and its right and obligation to defend itself,” Blinken told a press conference Friday.
In the same vein, Blinken emphasized the protection of civilians in Gaza who are “caught in a crossfire of Hamas’s making,” stressing that “everything be done to protect them and to bring assistance to those who so desperately need it and who are not in any way responsible for what happened on October 7.”
Blinken said the United States has stressed the importance of humanitarian pauses, adding that had been an topic of discussion with Israeli leaders in his meetings on Friday.
The secretary of state added that the creation of a Palestinian state was essential to Israel’s security. “Two states for two peoples. Again, that is the only way to ensure lasting security for a Jewish and democratic Israel,” he said.
When asked about Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s speech, Blinken reiterated that the US has been is determined there should not be a second or third front in the conflict.
“With regard to Lebanon, with regard to Hezbollah, with regard to Iran, we have been very clear from the outset that we are determined that there not be a second or third front opened in this conflict,” Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.
“We are in a high state of readiness in the north, in a very high state of alert, to respond to any event today and in coming days,” he added.
[ad_2]
Source link
