While arming Israelis, Blinken says Gaza death toll 'far too high'
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After reaffirming the US' support for "Israel", Blinken stressed the importance of minimizing civilian harm and protecting infrastructure in Gaza.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken answers questions during a press conference in "Tel Aviv", Palestine, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)
In a crucial meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, top US diplomat Antony Blinken emphasized the need for "Israel" to address the high toll on Gazan civilians.
While reaffirming the US support for "Israel", Blinken stressed the importance of minimizing civilian harm and protecting infrastructure in Gaza.
On December 26, Israeli Channel 12 reported that 244 US transport planes and 20 ships have delivered over 10,000 tons of armaments and military equipment to the Israeli regime since the war's onset.
According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Biden administration has cleared a potential $147.5 million foreign military sale of M107 155mm ammunition and supporting equipment to the Israelis on December 30.
Health authorities in Gaza recently reported that the death toll exceeded the 23,000 mark, a number that Biden said was "far too high" during a press conference.
Read more: Famine in Gaza 'turning children into skeletons': Reports
Blinken called for increased provisions of food, water, and medicine to alleviate the humanitarian plight.
He added that "Israel" agreed to allow a UN assessment mission in northern Gaza to determine the necessary steps for the safe return of displaced Palestinians.
In his conversations with Netanyahu, Blinken reportedly emphasized the necessity of securing a lasting and sustainable peace for both "Israel" and the broader region, which includes the realization of a Palestinian state, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
He further urged "Israel" to refrain from taking actions that undermine the Palestinians' ability to govern themselves effectively.
The Israelis have agreed to a plan for a UN mission to evaluate the situation in northern Gaza "to allow displaced Palestinians to return safely to the north," according to US top diplomat Antony Blinken.
"We agreed today on a plan for the UN to carry out an assessment mission," Blinken said during a visit to the Israeli-occupied Palestine.
Read more: IOF death toll: 514 troops killed since October 7
Earlier in the day, Israeli media reported that a one-on-one meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was "tense."
Netanyahu's office refrained from issuing a customary readout of the meeting, a deviation that hints at potential discord with Blinken.
Israeli Channel 12 report indicates a widening gap in the outlook on the ongoing genocide between the US and the Israelis, with Washington allegedly "running out of patience," despite it supplying the ongoing genocide with munitions and bombs.
The mounting differences have prompted Prime Minister Netanyahu to opt out of appearing alongside Secretary Blinken at their upcoming press conference, as highlighted by Channel 12.
