TEL AVIV: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a crucial meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister on Friday, emphasizing the urgent need for a humanitarian pause in the ongoing Israeli strikes against innocent Palestinians in Gaza.
Israeli forces continued to tighten their encirclement of Gaza City, intensifying the already dire situation for its residents. The conflict, which began on October 7, has raised fears of spillover into other regions. Particularly concerning is the ongoing exchange of fire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group along their shared border. Tensions escalated sharply in anticipation of a speech scheduled for later today by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Secretary Blinken’s visit comes amidst global calls for an immediate ceasefire, aiming to alleviate the suffering of innocent Palestinians in Gaza. The United States has been at the forefront of these efforts, urging both parties to step back from the brink of a potentially devastating escalation.
Israeli Ground Troops Encircle Gaza City
Meanwhile, Israeli ground troops encircled Gaza City on Friday, after close ally the United States urged “concrete steps” to minimize civilian casualties.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday hailed victories so far, telling a group of elite soldiers that Israeli forces were “advancing” despite “painful losses”. “We are in the midst of the campaign. We have very impressive successes,” he said at a base near Tel Aviv. “We are already more than on the outskirts of Gaza City. We are advancing.”
Gaza is home to some half a million Palestinians who have endured weeks of withering aerial bombardments, dwindling supplies, and daily carnage. Outside Gaza City’s Al-Quds hospital, displaced residents seeking shelter from Israeli strikes told AFP news agency that civilians would not withstand the barrage much longer.
“This is not a life. We need a safe place for our kids,” said 50-year-old Hiyam Shamlakh. “Everybody is terrified: children, women, and the elderly.”
