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Blinken Announces New US Disaster Relief for Gaza
Voice of America
26 May 2021, 08:05 GMT+10
RAMALLAH, WEST BANK - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he will ask Congress for $75 million in assistance for Palestinians in Gaza following the recent cease-fire that brought an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Blinken made the announcement after talks in Ramallah with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday. We know that the last round of violence is symptomatic of a larger set of issues that we have to address if we re going to prevent its recurrence and that s what we talked about today, Blinken said. We welcome the cease-fire that continues to hold but that s not enough, we have to build on the cease-fire and try to move things in a genuinely positive direction.
“The signs at this stage are positive, but more than just nice words or the absence of condemnation will be required,” says Simon Henderson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Blinken described Egypt and Jordan as central players in trying to bring calm to the region. Both countries are key U.S. allies that have peace agreements with Israel and frequently serve as mediators between Israel and the Palestinians.