Blinken announces further $135 million in aid to Palestinians

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making his 11th visit to the Middle East since the beginning of this war. But he appears to be coming up empty handed once again on Tuesday, he sat down with the Israeli Prime Minister for over 2.5 hours trying to convince the Israeli Prime Minister that now is the moment in the wake of the killing of Yahya Sinar to end the war in Gaza and strike *** deal to bring the hostages home. But the and the wording from the Israeli Prime Minister and his office in the wake of that meeting was very different from what us officials would have hoped the Prime Minister's office putting *** lot of emphasis on the ongoing fight in Gaza. The potential for Israeli strikes against Iran and only offering really just *** fig leaf to this idea of ending the war in Gaza in the wake of Sinar S killing, saying in the statement that sin's killing is likely to have *** positive influence on returning the hostages and achieving Israel's goals in the war in Gaza. Not quite *** firm commitment to getting back to the negotiating table. We also know that the Secretary of State pressed on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. And the reality is that we are watching that despite these efforts by the United States, they say that Israel is taking some steps to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza. But it's clear from on the ground that we are nowhere close to that situation getting resolved. Instead, the Israeli military is stepping up its military offensive in northern Gaza where we are getting reports every single day of civilians being killed in these strikes, killed by gunfire. And also of course, that very little to no aid is actually making its way there as hospitals are also facing very dire conditions in Lebanon. We are also watching the Israeli military continuing to carry out heavier strikes, not only in southern Lebanon, including in the city, the historic city of tire, but also in the Lebanese capital of Beirut once again. And so it's just clear that for now, there is no real sense that things are going to de escalate in this region for the moment. But nonetheless, even as the Secretary of State tried to press on these kind of immediate term goals, he also is looking longer term and that's what he was doing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as he sat down with the crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman to talk not only about this opportunity to end the war in Gaza, but also to think about the day after the war in Gaza. And there's no question that Saudi Arabia is likely to play *** strong role there. The question now though is, when will we actually get to that day after the war? Jeremy Diamond CNN Tel Aviv. Yeah.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Thursday another $135 million in aid to the Palestinians. He said it is critical that aid enters Gaza.Blinken spoke in Qatar on Thursday on his 11th visit to the region since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The U.S. has pressed Israel to allow more aid into the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.Blinken was in Doha to meet with Qatari officials who have been key mediators for Hamas, as the U.S. struggles to break the logjam of cease-fire negotiations between Israel and the militant group.In Gaza, Palestinian officials said an Israeli strike on a school where displaced people were sheltering killed at least 17 people on Thursday, mostly women and children.Another 42 people were wounded in the strike in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. Among the dead were seven children as young as 11 months, as well as three women. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.The Israel-Hamas war began after Hamas-led militants on Oct. 7, 2023, blew holes in Israel’s security fence and stormed in, killing some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducting 250 others. Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not differentiate between militants and civilians.United Nations humanitarian officials are reporting "harrowing levels of death, injury and destruction" in northern Gaza as Israel wages another major operation there.Israel is also fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the total toll over the past year is over 2,500 killed and 12,000 wounded. The fighting in Lebanon has driven 1.2 million people from their homes, including more than 400,000 children, according to the United Nations children’s agency.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Thursday another $135 million in aid to the Palestinians. He said it is critical that aid enters Gaza.

Blinken spoke in Qatar on Thursday on his 11th visit to the region since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The U.S. has pressed Israel to allow more aid into the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

Blinken was in Doha to meet with Qatari officials who have been key mediators for Hamas, as the U.S. struggles to break the logjam of cease-fire negotiations between Israel and the militant group.

In Gaza, Palestinian officials said an Israeli strike on a school where displaced people were sheltering killed at least 17 people on Thursday, mostly women and children.

Another 42 people were wounded in the strike in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. Among the dead were seven children as young as 11 months, as well as three women. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

NATHAN HOWARD/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves before boarding his aircraft at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod on October 23, 2024, as he departs for Riyadh for the Saudi leg of his trip.

The Israel-Hamas war began after Hamas-led militants on Oct. 7, 2023, blew holes in Israel’s security fence and stormed in, killing some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducting 250 others. Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not differentiate between militants and civilians.

United Nations humanitarian officials are reporting "harrowing levels of death, injury and destruction" in northern Gaza as Israel wages another major operation there.

Israel is also fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the total toll over the past year is over 2,500 killed and 12,000 wounded. The fighting in Lebanon has driven 1.2 million people from their homes, including more than 400,000 children, according to the United Nations children’s agency.

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