Blinken urges extended pauses in Gaza fighting despite aid assessment

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Wednesday for extended pauses in the Gaza fighting to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, even as the State Department determined Israel was not blocking relief efforts.

The statement came after the expiration of a 30-day US deadline for Israel to improve humanitarian access to Gaza, a requirement under US law. While the State Department concluded Israel was complying with aid requirements, eight international humanitarian organisations disagreed, stating Israel had failed to meet US demands for improved access.

“We need to see real and extended pauses in large areas of Gaza so that assistance can effectively get to people who need it,” Blinken said during a press conference in Brussels. He added that Israel should allow displaced residents to return home and permit commercial lorry deliveries to resume.

Food security experts have warned that famine conditions are imminent in parts of Gaza. While acknowledging some Israeli improvements in aid access, Blinken emphasised these measures must be sustained to have meaningful impact.

Current situation

The conflict, which began in October 2023 with a Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostages, has resulted in over 43,500 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health authorities. The United Nations reports that approximately 2 million Gaza residents have been displaced.

Blinken assessed that Israel has achieved its primary military objectives, including degrading Hamas’s leadership and capability to launch major attacks. “This should be a time to end the war,” he said.

Path forward

The Secretary outlined several key requirements for moving toward resolution:
– Implementation of extended humanitarian pauses
– Removal of evacuation orders
– Restoration of commercial lorrying
– Development of a clear post-conflict plan

“We need to make sure we have a plan for what follows,” Blinken stated, addressing the need for a framework to prevent Hamas from returning to power while allowing Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza.

While Hamas has not actively engaged in peace negotiations, Blinken indicated that regional discussions about Gaza’s future governance continue. These talks aim to establish stability once hostilities cease and facilitate the return of remaining hostages.

The Biden administration, which has supported Israel throughout the conflict while pushing for increased humanitarian considerations, faces domestic political pressure as the November presidential election approaches.

Former President Trump, the Republican nominee, has expressed strong support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military campaign against Hamas, though he has not detailed his own plan for achieving regional peace.