GAZA CITY: Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, has urged US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to use his current Middle East tour to bring an end to Israeli “aggression” in Gaza. Blinken, who arrived in Turkey on Friday, is set to visit Israel, the occupied West Bank, and several Gulf states.
Haniyeh, in a video message shared on Hamas’s social media channels late Friday, expressed hope that Blinken had “learned the lessons of the last three months” during which Israel intensified its military campaign, launching attacks on Gaza. He accused the US of contributing to “unprecedented massacres and war crimes” against the Palestinian people.
The Hamas leader emphasized the need for Blinken to focus on ending the aggression and the occupation of Palestinian lands. He urged regional leaders scheduled to meet with Blinken to convey that the stability of the Middle East is closely linked to the Palestinian cause.
Israel’s Military Offensive Against Hamas in Gaza
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7 when Hamas launched unprecedented attacks on Israel. Since October 7, at least 22,722 Palestinian people, mostly women and children, have been killed in ongoing extensive Israeli bombardment and ground forces attacks, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
While the United States is a key ally of Israel and has not explicitly supported a ceasefire, Blinken’s regional tour is said to focus on facilitating more aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. The US has expressed support for humanitarian pauses and backed a UN Security Council resolution calling for increased aid to Gaza.
