US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged for an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza, emphasizing that “now is the time” to transition Israel’s strategic accomplishments into long-term success.
Blinken’s statement comes after Israel achieved its key objectives in Gaza, including dismantling Hamas’s military capacity and eliminating its senior leadership, including Yahya Sinwar.
Key Developments:
- Israeli Drone Strike: An Israeli drone struck Tyre, Lebanon, prompting a mass evacuation of the coastal city, with residents fleeing ahead of operations targeting Hezbollah.
- Humanitarian Crisis: The situation in Tyre is dire, with reports of thick black smoke rising from the city, and authorities scrambling to evacuate people.
- Blinken’s Visit: This is Blinken’s 11th visit to the region since the Gaza war began and his first since the Israel-Hezbollah violence escalated.
- Gaza War Toll: The conflict has resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, and Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed 42,718 people in Gaza.
US Diplomatic Efforts:
- Ceasefire Talks: Blinken is working to capitalize on Sinwar’s death to negotiate a ceasefire, emphasizing the need for sustained progress in humanitarian aid.
- Israel-Saudi Arabia Deal: The US diplomat urged Israel to seize the opportunity to move towards a deal with Saudi Arabia, which has put normalization talks on hold until a Palestinian state is established.
Blinken’s visit aims to address the pressing issues in the region, including the release of hostages still held in Gaza and finding a lasting solution to the conflict ¹.
