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Blinken's visit comes shortly after Israel announced a national unity government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz and Yoav Gallant.

Blinken reiterates US support for Israel and accuses Hamas of using the civilian population as human shields

Israel seeks to extend truce with Iran to Gaza to recover hostages

The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran is faltering after a new attack from Tehran

Putin will agree to meet with Zelensky in the final phase of negotiations

PHOTO/FILE - Israeli Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Margarita Arredondas
Updated: 13/10/23

Israel enters its sixth day of war against Hamas. The death toll from the terrorist group's brutal assault now exceeds 1,300, as the Israeli air force continues to strike Hamas targets and other militias in the Gaza Strip. According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), 6,000 bombs have been dropped on the Palestinian enclave, with a total weight of 4,000 tonnes of explosives.

These attacks have succeeded in eliminating many terrorists and destroying Hamas infrastructure, but they are also exacerbating the humanitarian crisis that Gaza has been suffering for years. For this reason, Egypt has agreed to open a humanitarian corridor, but Hamas has rejected this as "evacuating" the enclave, Egyptian security sources told the EFE news agency.

Hamas has repeatedly been accused of using civilians in Gaza as human shields, as well as using Western aid to buy or manufacture weapons. Aware of this, countries such as Germany have already suspended some aid to the Palestinian territories. Conversely, Berlin has offered military aid to Israel or assistance in treating the wounded.

"At this moment, there is only one place for Germany: the place next to Israel," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the Bundestag. "Our own history, our responsibility stemming from the Holocaust, makes defending the security of the state of Israel a priority for us," he added. In his speech, Scholz also slammed Iran and the "shameful" silence of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who shortly after the German leader's comments condemned violence against civilians "on both sides".

Scholz has also come out strongly against displays of support for Hamas at various demonstrations around the world. He has therefore announced that the German authorities will ban such activities.

Blinken compares Hamas massacres to the "darkest hours of Jewish history"

Israel is receiving a great deal of support from the international community, especially from the West. Its historic ally, the United States, has also reiterated its unconditional support through its secretary of state, Antony Blinken. The head of US diplomacy has travelled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior government officials.

Antony Blinken assured this Thursday that Gaza civilians are not the target of Israeli attacks and accused Hamas of using them as "human shields" against Israeli bombings. "Hamas continues to use civilians as human shields, something that is not new, something it has always done, intentionally putting civilians in danger to protect itself," he declared at a press conference in Tel Aviv. Blinken said that makes the fight against Hamas "more complicated," but stressed that Gaza civilians "are not the target of Israel's operations."

The head of American diplomacy, visiting Israel as a show of solidarity, revealed that in his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he discussed "ways to address the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza while Israel carries out its legitimate security operation". Both explored the possibility of opening safe corridors so that Gazans who wish to do so can leave the strip, an issue that Blinken said he will address in the coming days with other authorities in the region.

The Secretary of State explained that the Israelis have shown him harsh images of the Hamas attack last Saturday in southern Israel, which show a shot baby, decapitated soldiers and young people burned alive while escaping, among other horrors. The senior diplomat concluded that the only explanation for such a massacre is "the pure evil" of this Palestinian Islamist group.

US President Joe Biden has promised Israel all the support necessary to fight Hamas in this new war. At least 25 Americans were killed in the Hamas attack.

"As long as the United States exists, we will stand with you," Blinken said during a joint press conference with Netanyahu. "I am here not only as US secretary of state, but also as a Jew," Blinken said, lamenting that the Hamas massacres were reminiscent of the "darkest hours of Jewish history" such as the Holocaust. During his trip to the region, the secretary of state will also meet in Jordan with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II. 

In addition to Blinken, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has also travelled to Israel, where he visited the southern areas affected by the Hamas attack.

New Israeli war cabinet

Blinken's visit comes shortly after Israel announced a national unity government headed by Netanyahu, major opposition leader and former defence minister Benny Gantz and current defence minister Yoav Gallant. The country's main opposition leader, Yair Lapid - former prime minister - was also invited to join the cabinet, but has declined the invitation. 

This new government will deal exclusively with activities and measures related to the current war. In this regard, as The Times of Israel reports, the IDF has stepped up preparations for a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The army has also indicated that there were signs that Hamas was preparing for a protracted conflict with Israel.

During the presentation of this new war executive, Gallant vowed to end Hamas, which he accused of the "worst terrorist attack the world has ever seen". The defence minister also met by video conference with his NATO counterparts, to whom he described the Hamas massacres. "We will pursue every last man whose hands are stained with the blood of our children," he stressed.

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USA Gaza Israel Palestine United States Germany
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