"Israel has met its war goals, time to focus on ceasefire," says Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for an end to the ongoing aggression in Gaza, saying that “Israel” achieved its objectives, including diminishing the military capabilities of Hamas. Blinken stressed that with these goals met, it is essential to pursue a sustainable ceasefire to stabilize the region.

"From my perspective, what we’ve seen is this: Israel, by the standards it set itself, has accomplished the goals that it set for itself," Blinken stated. "So this should be a time to end the war."

Furthermore, Blinken accused Hamas of refusing to engage in talks over a ceasefire or negotiate the release of captives, underlining the importance of putting pressure on the group to halt the violence. He emphasized that "extensive pauses" are urgently needed in Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected by the aggression.

"In my judgment maybe most significant, we need to see real and extended pauses in large areas of Gaza, pauses in any fighting, any combat, so that the assistance can effectively get to people who need it... extended pauses for days, not simply hours," Blinken asserted.

Additionally, Blinken revealed that approximately 900 trucks filled with humanitarian aid are currently held at the Karem Abu Salem border crossing. Due to concerns over potential looting, these supplies have not yet been permitted entry into Gaza.

Blinken stated that it is "Israel’s" responsibility to ensure that these trucks are allowed safe passage to deliver critical supplies to Gaza’s residents, underscoring the importance of humanitarian support during this period.