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Arab countries call for an immediate end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza; Blinken insists on Israel’s right to self-defense

  • November 4, 2023
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This Saturday, the foreign ministers of six Arab countries asked the US Secretary of State: Antony BlinkenA “immediate cessation” of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, to

Arab countries call for an immediate end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza;  Blinken insists on Israel’s right to self-defense

This Saturday, the foreign ministers of six Arab countries asked the US Secretary of State: Antony BlinkenA “immediate cessation” of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, to end the “catastrophe” in the Palestinian enclave, and considered it “unacceptable to justify it” or “qualify it as self-defense.”

“The Arab countries demand an immediate ceasefire and stop this war and the killing of innocent civilians and the destruction it causes, and we refuse to classify it as self-defense,” Jordan’s foreign minister said. Ayman al-Safadiat a press conference he held in Amman with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry and Blinken.

“This is a raging war in which civilians are dying, their homes, schools, hospitals, mosques, churches and cannot be justifiedAnd this will bring neither security to Israel nor peace in the region,” he added.

Photo: Reuters

“The killing must stop war crimes must stop and it is also necessary to end Israel’s immunity against international law,” he stressed.

Al-Safadi noted that he and his colleagues from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) conveyed Arab views to the US Secretary of State during a meeting they held with him today in the Jordanian capital.

He stressed that at this meeting, in which, as he said, “there were points of agreement” and “other disagreements,” the Arabs also demanded that the arrival of “Immediate, sufficient and permanent humanitarian assistance to Gaza”.

Blinken insists on Israel’s right to self-defense and calls for measures to protect civilians

Antony Blinken insisted in Jordan today that Israel “has the right to self-defense” and an “obligation” to do so to ensure that the October 7 attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas “does not happen again,” although he called for measures to avoid civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.

Blinken, on the other hand, stated that The US is committed to working with its partners in the region increase the amount of aid reaching civilians in the Gaza Strip through Egypt’s Rafah crossing, the only exit from the Palestinian enclave not controlled by Israel.

“Israel has the right and responsibility to defend itself and take the necessary measures to ensure that what happened on October 7 does not happen againBlinken said, though he stressed the need for Israel to “take the necessary measures” to avoid civilian casualties and “ensure that those who need assistance receive it.”

American official accused the Islamist group Hamaswhose numerous and deadly attack on October 7 in Israel led to the current conflict, use “human shields” and use civilian targets as centers of military operations.

“Hamas (…) uses the civilian population as a shield and its leaders as weapons and operational centers are located in residential buildings, under schools and in schools, under hospitals and inside hospitals, under mosques and inside mosques, it’s terrible,” he said.

Destruction caused by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip | Photo: Reuters

“But Israel is obliged to respect the laws of war and humanity. and do everything to ensure that civilians are not harmed and ensure that assistance reaches women and children,” Blinken added in Jordan, where he met with the foreign ministers of that country, as well as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates , Qatar and Palestine. Liberation Organization (LLO).

On the need for increased humanitarian assistance, Blinken said he addressed the issue both during his visit to Israel on Friday and in a meeting today in Amman with UNRWA officials as well as Egypt, and said more than 100 truckloads of humanitarian aid had arrived today. helped cross the Egyptian land crossing from Rafah to the Gaza Strip.

On the other hand, he stressed the importance of preventing the expansion of the conflict in Gaza.

EFE

Source: Aristegui Noticias

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