U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has emphasized the necessity of uniting the West Bank and the Gaza Strip under a single Palestinian leadership. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Blinken highlighted that establishing an independent Palestinian state is fundamental for the long-term stability of the entire region.
In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli War Council on Tuesday, Blinken underscored the need to avoid further harm to civilians and to protect civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. The U.S. State Department, in a statement, mentioned that during his talks with Netanyahu and the Israeli War Council in Tel Aviv, Blinken also stressed the importance of ensuring lasting peace for Israel and the region, including through the establishment of a Palestinian state. The statement added that the meeting also discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all detainees in Gaza and the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to the area.
Intensifying Battles in Khan Younis
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant assured Blinken that the intensity of the fighting in Khan Younis would escalate and continue until the leaders of Hamas are reached. He explained that changing the dynamics of combat in northern Gaza would assist Israel in achieving its war objectives.
Gallant stated that Israel’s priority on the northern front is to return the residents to their homes after altering the security situation. The long-term goals of the Biden administration were expected to face resistance from the right-wing Israeli government, which opposes the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Netanyahu has staked his political survival on obstructing the establishment of a Palestinian state and rejected a U.S. proposal for the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, to play a role in the future of Gaza.
