2024-05-13 08:45:00
A major Israeli offensive in Rafah would cause “chaos” and “anarchy”, without eliminating Hamas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Sunday, maintaining pressure on Israel.
The plan currently being considered by Israel in Rafah “risks causing enormous damage to the civilian population without resolving the problem,” said the head of American diplomacy, Mr. Blinken, on NBC.
According to him, an Israeli intervention in Rafah would risk creating “chaos”, “anarchy”, and ultimately, a return of Hamas.
“We have seen Hamas return to the areas that Israel liberated in the north, even to Khan Younes”, a ruined town near Rafah, assured the Secretary of State.
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The United States has publicly threatened to suspend the delivery of certain categories of weapons to its ally Israel, including artillery shells, if Israel launches a major offensive in the crowded town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. , which President Joe Biden opposes.
Concerns reiterated by the American national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, during an interview on Sunday with his Israeli counterpart Tzahi Hanegbi, according to a White House press release.
According to the American executive, Mr. Hanegbi confirmed that Israel “takes into account the concerns of the United States”.
Asked whether the United States considered that more civilians had been killed in Gaza than members of Hamas, Antony Blinken answered “yes” on Sunday on CBS.
Mr. Blinken also spoke on Sunday with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and reiterated American opposition to a major ground operation in Rafah, the State Department reported.
Read also | Gaza: Intense strikes on Rafah despite Hamas’ “yes”
The Secretary of State “stressed the urgent need to protect civilians and aid workers in Gaza and urged the Minister (Gallant) to ensure that aid can enter Gaza,” the spokesperson said in a statement. of State Department Matthew Miller.
The Hamas Ministry of Health announced a new death toll of 35,034 in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement.
The current conflict broke out on October 7 when Hamas commandos infiltrated from Gaza carried out an unprecedented attack once morest Israel, killing more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP report based on official Israeli data.
Challenge (with AFP)
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