Blinken, Dermer discuss end to Gaza war, Lebanon ceasefire
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The US Secretary of State met with Ron Dermer, Netanyahu's closest minister and top confidant on Monday.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a media availability with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Berlin, Germany, on January 20, 2022. (AP)
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer on Monday, US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said.
The two discussed developments in Gaza and Lebanon, where Blinken pointed to the "importance of bringing all of the hostages home and ending the war in Gaza," while stressing the "importance" of implementing the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.
It is worth noting that Dermer is known to be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's closest minister and top confidant.
The two discussed the "path forward in the post-conflict period," focussing on governance, security, and reconstruction in Gaza.
Blinken also requested that the Israeli government "do more" to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. His request comes 13 days after the US vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at ending the war in Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged northern Gaza Strip.
Read more: For fourth time US vetoes UNSC resolution advocating ceasefire in Gaza
Ceasefire in Lebanon
As for the situation in Lebanon, Blinken brought up the implementation of the ceasefire in Lebanon, which he said would "allow both Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes and remain there for the long term."
As has been the case in almost every press release by the State Department, Blinken "reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and Iran-backed proxy groups."
Earlier on Monday, Hezbollah announced that it had conducted a warning strike against Israeli occupation forces in the Israeli-occupied Lebanese Kfar Chouba Hills, stressing that the operation came in response to continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.
The Resistance also pointed to the fact that it had informed the relevant parties of the violations—ranging from strikes that killed and injured civilians to breaches of Lebanese airspace—yet its efforts proved in vain.
Then the Israeli regime launched a series of strikes on Lebanese towns, not limited to the towns of Talousa and Haris, where at least nine civilians were killed.
Read more: US cautions 'Israel' on fragility of Lebanon ceasefire
