US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today he will ask Israel to take “concrete measures” to minimize the danger to civilians in Gaza, calling for any escalation in the region to be avoided.
“Let’s talk about concrete steps that can and should be taken to minimize harm to the men, women and children of Gaza,” Blinken told reporters before leaving for Israel.
The head of North American diplomacy also assured that the United States is “determined” to prevent any escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
For, Blinken urged “stability” in the Middle East and “lasting peace” between Israelis and Palestinians during a meeting in Washington with Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman.
Both spoke about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip as Israeli bombardment of that Palestinian enclave continues, part of the open war unleashed on October 7 by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas’s attack on Israel, which resulted in more than 1,400 deaths . mainly civilians, and more than 200 hostages.
Blinken took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of “responding to the humanitarian needs” of the people of Gaza, preventing “the spread of conflict in the area and strengthening regional stability and security, including in Yemen “, said the ministry spokesperson. State, Matthew Miller.
“He also emphasized the importance of working toward lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, a priority shared by both the United States and Saudi Arabia,” Miller said, before expressing the United States’ commitment to “help its partners defend against threats from state and non-state sides. -state actors”.
He also reiterated the “value of the strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia to ensure a lasting peace agreement in Yemen and initiate political dialogue in the country under the auspices of the UN.”
Earlier, the Saudi minister met at the Defense Ministry headquarters with his North American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, with whom he reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the two countries in the military and defense sectors.
The two also discussed ways to strengthen and improve bilateral ties and emphasized the regional and international role of their respective countries in achieving peace, Saudi state news agency SPA said.
News updated at 6:01 PM
Source: DN
