On Saturday, August 17, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel to help expand efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and to allow the transfer of captives from Gaza.
Blinken will stress during his visit that it is essential for all parties to work together to stop the territory from escalating.
According to Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department, Vedant Patel, the US State Department will go to Israel on August 17 to remain aggressive political efforts to finalize the cease-fire and the transfer of hostages and detainees, with aid from Egypt and Qatar, according to a press release on Friday.
The plan, which is supported by Qatar and Egypt, even aims to ensure the supply of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.
The statement read,” This plan would secure the release of all victims, ensure humanitarian aid is distributed throughout Gaza, and create problems for broader local stability,” the statement read.
Secretary Blinken will draw attention to the urgent need for all parties involved in the region to refrain from further escalation or taking any actions that might impair the ability to reach an agreement.
After the Hamas attack on October 7 that left 2,500 terrorists crossing the Gaza Strip into Israel, causing both hostages and casualties, the conflict in Gaza grew even more dire. Israel’s Gaza offensive has been described as aimed at Hamas ‘ infrastructure, with the aim of removing the entire terror group while reducing civilian casualties.
In a joint statement on Monday, US President Joe Biden, along with the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, called on Iran to cease its ongoing threats of a military attack against Israel.
We discussed the serious consequences for regional security should an attack like this occur, according to the White House in a joint statement. Additionally, the statement highlighted the urgent need for aid delivery and distribution.
” We reaffirmed our full support for the ongoing efforts to ease tensions and negotiate a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza. We backed President Biden, Sisi of Egypt, and Qatari Amir Tamim’s call to resume discussions later this week, with the goal of bringing the deal to an end as soon as possible, according to the joint statement.
” All parties must live up to their responsibilities. Additionally, the unfettered delivery and distribution of aid is needed. We expressed our support for Israel’s defense against Iranian hostilities and attacks by terrorist organizations supported by Iran,” it continued.
After Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran last month, which prompted promises of “punishment” from Iran, Israel is preparing for a strong retaliation.
Israel has threatened to execute Haniyeh and other senior Hamas figures for their involvement in the terrorist attacks of October 7, but it has neither confirmed nor denied that it is responsible for Haniyeh’s death.
After the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) announced Ismail Haniyeh’s death on July 31 in an attack in Tehran, tensions grew in West Asia. According to the IRGC, Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when their Tehran residence was struck. A projectile struck a house allocated to war veterans in Tehran at 2 a. m. ( local time ) on Wednesday, according to a Press TV report.
In retaliation for the rocket attack on the Golan Heights that left 12 children dead, the IDF announced that top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed on July 30 in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon. Fuad Shukr, described as the “most senior Hezbollah military commander”, was killed in the Israeli strike, the IDF stated. Shukr was a member of the Jihad Council, Hezbollah’s top military body, and was considered the head of its strategic division.
