Iran said the United States of America “will be hit hard” if Washington does not impose a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reported. The agency cited a statement by Iran’s Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, as quoted by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
“Our advice to the Americans is to immediately end the war in Gaza and establish a ceasefire, otherwise they will be hit hard,” Aschiani said.
After the surprise attack by the radical Palestinian group “Hamas” on October 7, in which 1,400 people were killed on Israeli territory, Israel responded with an advance on the Gaza Strip and incessant bombing, Reuters and BTA recall. According to Iran, which supports the Hamas movement, the US has “military involvement” in the conflict.
Arab countries have called for a ceasefire, while Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is pushing on behalf of the US government for “humanitarian pauses” in the exchange of fire because a complete halt would lead to the regrouping of Hamas fighters and another attack by them.
Blinken today also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, AFP and Reuters reported, which is the first visit by the US secretary of state since the war between Israel and Hamas began.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Photo: BTA/AP
The meeting between Blinken and Abbas in Ramallah lasted about an hour. The two did not appear before the media afterwards. The Palestinian president told Blinken that there must be an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid must be allowed into the Gaza Strip, spokesman Nabil Abu Redeineh said.
In turn, the US secretary of state has stated the commitment of the US to humanitarian aid reaching the population of the enclave and the restoration of basic public services, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a summary of the meeting.
“The Secretary of State has also expressed the commitment of the United States to the realization of the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians to establish their own state,” Miller added.
In Ramallah, Blinken and Abbas “discussed what efforts should be made to restore peace and stability in the West Bank, including the need to stop extremist violence against Palestinians and hold the perpetrators of such acts accountable,” he added. the State Department spokesman.
According to The Times of Israel, Blinken’s meeting with Abbas was devoted to the future of the Gaza Strip after the end of the war. The publication recalled that earlier this week, at a hearing in the US Congress, Blinken said that “at some stage it will be most sensible for a revitalized and effective Palestinian Authority to take over the administration of the Gaza Strip, bearing the ultimate responsibility for security ” in the enclave. Palestinian President Abbas then says Blinken’s proposal can only be implemented with a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most members of the current Israeli government reject such an option, as they see it as a threat to the Jewish state.
At a meeting with Arab officials yesterday, Blinken did not support calls for a ceasefire, insisting on pauses. Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, ousting the Fatah movement led by Mahmoud Abbas.
Fatah currently controls only the Palestinian areas of the West Bank. The foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan, Sameh Shoukry and Ayman Safadi, expressed yesterday after the meeting with Blinken in Amman the opinion that it would be hasty to talk about the future of the Gaza Strip, and first of all it is necessary to stop the fire.
Blinken will also meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
Photo: BTA/AP
Today, the Turkish diplomat discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip with his colleagues from Egypt and Jordan in separate phone calls, a Turkish diplomatic source reported, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
Fidan exchanged views on “stopping attacks targeting the civilian population in Gaza” and achieving an urgent ceasefire.
Israel says it is shelling Hamas, not civilians, but the Islamist Palestinian group is using residents of the Strip as human shields, Reuters notes.
Fidan also discussed efforts to ensure the unimpeded and continuous delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the source added.
