GAZA: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Israel today to press for a ceasefire in Gaza, ahead of a significant UNSC vote on a US-backed draft resolution on the need for an “immediate” truce.
Israel’s main ally Washington announced it would submit for a vote today a draft to the UNSC on the need for an “immediate truce as part of a captive deal”, following repeatedly using its veto to stop other similarly resolutions.
Fighting in Gaza this week has centred around Al-Shifa hospital, the besieged territory’s largest, with Israel also vowing to launch a new ground assault in overcrowded Rafah in the south.
Israel also said its intelligence chief would head back to Doha on Friday for more ceasefire talks with US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators who are making attempt to negotiate a six-week pause.
US Secretary of State Heads to Israel to Press for ‘Immediate’ Ceasefire in Gaza War
US top diplomat Blinken told media persons in Cairo on Thursday “gaps are narrowing down” and that Washington was “continuing to push for deal in Doha”. Blinken said that it is very difficult to get there, but I believe it is possible.”
Blinken also warned that an Israeli ground attack in Rafahwould be “a mistake”. He said that there is no room for the civilian population amassed in Rafah to get out of harm’s way.
Israel’s relentless and brutal bombardment of Gaza has continued despite fresh diplomatic efforts, with the death toll in the Gaza region close to 32,000, the health ministry said.
Earlier, the Israeli army has attacked a house in the Nassr neighbourhood of the city of Rafah, killing around 8 people and injuring several, Arab media reported on Friday.
According to the Wafa news agency three women and three children were among those killed in the Israeli brutal strike.
