Blinken in the Middle East for a new ceasefire in Gaza

2024-02-05 14:47:26, Kosova & Bota CNA

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken left for the Middle East on February 5 to try to reach a new ceasefire agreement in the war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian group declared a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.

In his fifth tour of the region since Hamas launched the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the war, Blinken is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt and Qatar.

Before this trip, the US diplomat emphasized the need "for the urgent addressing of humanitarian demands in Gaza", as aid groups have repeatedly raised the alarm about the devastating impact of the almost four-month war on the besieged territory.

"The situation is indescribable," said Said Hamouda, a Palestinian who fled his home and moved to Rafah, a city on the border with Egypt.

According to the United Nations, Rafah is now home to over half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million because of Israel's attack.

Over the weekend, Israel continued its offensive in southern Gaza, warning that ground forces could advance on the town of Rafah as part of its campaign to root out Hamas.

As the war continues, Blinken is expected to discuss a proposed ceasefire during a meeting in January in Paris between senior US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials.

The diplomatic effort has become even more urgent as attacks by Iran-backed groups in solidarity with Hamas have increased across the region, prompting the US to respond with counterattacks.

The proposed ceasefire calls for a pause in fighting initially for six weeks for Hamas to release hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The war was sparked by Hamas' unprecedented offensive in southern Israel, which killed nearly 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and kidnapped nearly 250 others.

As a result of the Israeli offensive, over 27,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the Ministry of Health in Hamas-led Gaza. This ministry, which does not differentiate between fighters and killed civilians, said that most of the victims were women and children./ REL