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©US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv on January 9, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein, AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that he has reached an agreement with Israeli officials to allow a UN mission into northern Gaza to assess the return of Palestinians to the region.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he has reached an agreement with Israeli officials over the entry of a UN mission into northern Gaza to ensure the return of Palestinians to the area.
This UN mission will begin assessing the situation regarding Palestinians' return to the northern Gaza Strip.
Regarding the northern front, Blinken asserted that "Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and their backers, including Iran, continue to openly call for the elimination of Israel," before reiterating support for "diplomatic solutions."
The US top diplomat also commented on the case against Israel before the International Court of Justice, adding that it "hampers efforts to contain the escalation."
More than three months into the deadliest ever Gaza war, Blinken urged Israel on Tuesday to "avoid further civilian harm" in the besieged Palestinian territory.
"Israel must refrain from taking actions that undermine the Palestinian Authority, especially concerning settlements," he said.
In a Tel Aviv meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Secretary of State reaffirmed US "support for Israel's right to prevent the terrorist attacks of October 7 from being repeated," said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
But Blinken also "stressed the importance of avoiding further civilian harm and protecting civilian infrastructure in Gaza," Miller said about the Palestinian territory.
For the longer term, Miller added that Blinken "reiterated the need to ensure lasting, sustainable peace for Israel and the region, including by the realization of a Palestinian state."
He also voiced hope that, after the war, Israel could push on with its efforts towards regional integration, following its US-brokered normalization deals with the United Arab Emirates and other states.
As the ground offensive continues, the Israeli army has claimed to have largely achieved military control over northern Gaza and said that the war is now entering a new phase.
Israel deems it "crucial to increase pressure on Iran" to prevent "escalation," as stated by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a meeting with Blinken in Tel Aviv.
Gallant emphasized that heightened pressure on Iran is essential and could avert regional escalation on other fronts. Concerns about a broader conflict have risen since the initiation of the Gaza war by Palestinian Hamas attacks on October 7.
Gallant also mentioned the intensification and continuation of military operations in the Khan Yunis sector in southern Gaza. During the meeting, the minister highlighted that these military operations would "intensify and continue," according to a government statement.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
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