Israel has ruled out a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip until the hostages kidnapped by extremists are released. US Secretary of State Blinken had previously called for a ceasefire.
Israel rejects a humanitarian ceasefire in the war against the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip as long as Israeli hostages are held there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this following a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently visiting Israel.
“We will not stop until we achieve victory and achieve our defined goals: eliminating Hamas, returning our hostages and restoring security to our children and citizens,” Netanyahu said. “I have made it clear that we are continuing at full steam and that Israel rejects any temporary ceasefire that does not include the release of the kidnapped Israelis.”
US calls for humanitarian ceasefire
In talks with Netanyahu, Blinken had pushed for a humanitarian ceasefire in the fight against Hamas. He stressed that he had discussed in detail possible humanitarian ceasefires aimed at providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza and allowing them to reach safety.
“We must do more to protect Palestinian civilians,” Blinken said. It is important to proceed “correctly and lawfully,” because anything else would play into the hands of Hamas and other terrorist groups, said Blinken. Otherwise there will be no partners for peace. Sustainable humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip must be increased immediately and significantly. Meanwhile, the Hamas-controlled health authority in the Gaza Strip reported that a convoy of emergency vehicles had been shot at.
Conflict parties as a source
In the current situation, information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by the Palestinian and Israeli conflict parties cannot be directly verified by an independent body.
Israel rejects Fuel delivery away
In general, Israel is committed to providing humanitarian aid, said Blinken. He is confident that support for people in need of humanitarian assistance will increase. Blinken said mechanisms had been identified “that would allow fuel to be delivered to hospitals and other points of need in the South.” However, the US shared Israel’s concerns “regarding a massive diversion of fuel in the northern Gaza Strip.”
According to UN organizations, the supply of fuel is urgently needed to run hospital generators. However, Israel fears that the Islamist Hamas could misuse the fuel for military purposes. Accordingly, Netanyahu said that Israel “will not allow the importation of fuel into Gaza.” He also rejects financial aid for the Gaza Strip.
Blinken warns Hezbollah
Blinken warned Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon not to open another front in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. “We are committed to deterring aggression from any side.” He also referred to the stationing of several warships in the eastern Mediterranean. Netanyahu also warned the “enemies in the north” against further escalation of the war.
Since the outbreak of the war there have been repeated violent clashes on the Lebanese-Israeli border. Hezbollah is considered Iran’s most important non-state ally and is part of a front of organizations aimed at fighting Israel.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah spoke out today for the first time since the start of the war and warned Israel against a preventive strike against Lebanon. Hezbollah said all options were on the table. He described the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 as “wise and courageous.”