U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday he has still not seen a plan for Israel's planned offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah that would protect civilians, repeating that Washington could not support such an assault.
ASHDOD, Israel, May 1 - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday he has still not seen a plan for Israel's planned offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah that would protect civilians, repeating that Washington could not support such an assault.
An Israeli government spokesperson said Israel remained determined to destroy the remaining Hamas fighting formations. Blinken spoke at Israel's main port, Ashdod, and praised "meaningful progress" in recent weeks on humanitarian access, including by allowing flour for Gaza to flow through the port, as well as by opening up new border crossings.
The United States is Israel's main diplomatic supporter and weapons supplier. Blinken's visit comes about a month after U.S. President Joe Biden issued athat Washington's policy could shift if Israel fails to take steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers. Item 1 of 4 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with the families of the hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, outside of a hotel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 1, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/PoolU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with the families of the hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, outside of a hotel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 1, 2024.
Hamas killed 1,200 people and abducted 253 in the assault, according to Israeli tallies. The hostages are mostly Israeli but include some foreign nationals.
RULES:HEADLINEROW-TOP AID CWP DIP GEN HUMA INTAG NGO POL UN1 IL AMERS SWASIA US MEAST NAMER EMEA ASXPAC PS EMRG ASIA PACKAGE:US-TOP-NEWS PACKAGE:WORLD-NEWS MTVID MTPIX NEWS1 AFR NAFR EG TOPNWS TOPCMB PXP
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