US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday met Israel’s prime minister to press US calls for a humanitarian pause in the fighting in Gaza, even as fears grew that the conflict could widen, with Israel warning that it was on high alert for attacks on its border with Lebanon.
Israeli troops tightened their encirclement of Gaza City, the focus of their campaign to crush the enclave’s ruling Hamas militants, who launched a brutal attack on Israeli communities that started the war, but ever since that Oct. 7 assault, there have been concerns the conflict could ignite fighting on other fronts, and Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah have repeatedly traded fire along the border.
Tensions escalated further ahead of a speech planned later yesterday by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Those would be his first public comments since the Hamas attack.
Photo: AFP
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed ally of Hamas, on Thursday attacked Israeli military positions in northern Israel with drones, mortar fire and suicide drones. The Israeli military said it retaliated with warplanes and helicopter gunships, and spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said civilians were wounded in the attacks.
“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,” Hagari said.
Since Israel’s war with Hamas began, Hezbollah has taken calculated steps to keep Israel’s military busy on the nation’s border with Lebanon, but so far has done nothing to ignite an all-out war, but fears are growing that the war could escalate into a regional conflict.
More than 9,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza so far, mostly women and minors, and more and than 32,000 people have been wounded, the Hamas-run health ministry said, without providing a breakdown between civilians and fighters.
More than 1,400 people have died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians killed during Hamas’ initial attack, when about 240 people were also taken hostage. Twenty-four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation.
It is Blinken’s third trip to Israel since the war began and he also plans to visit Jordan. It follows US President Joe Biden’s suggestion for a humanitarian “pause” in the fighting. The aim would be to let in aid for Palestinians and let out more Palestinians who hold foreign passports and who are wounded.
About 800 people left Gaza over the past two days — the first time people departed the besieged territory other than four hostages released by Hamas and another rescued by Israeli forces.
Blinken first held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu behind closed doors before starting wider discussions with the leader and his War Cabinet.
Israel has not openly responded to Biden’s suggestion, but Netanyahu, who has previously ruled out a ceasefire, on Thursday said: “We are advancing... Nothing will stop us.”
The US has pledged unwavering support for Israel. Before Blinken departed, the US Department of State reiterated Washington’s “support for Israel’s right to defend itself.”
At the same time, Blinken was expected to stress the importance of protecting civilians and push for more aid in Gaza.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US was not advocating for a general ceasefire, but a “temporary, localized” pause.
Israel and the US seem to have no clear plan for what would come next if Hamas rule in Gaza is brought down — a key question on Blinken’s agenda.
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