Top U.S. diplomat lands in Israel to solidify ceasefire
25.05.2021
He will then travel on to neighbouring Egypt and Jordan.
U.S. President Joe Biden said Blinken would meet with Israeli leaders about our ironclad commitment to Israel s security, as well as seeking to rebuild ties with the Palestinians.
Blinken on Sunday reaffirmed U.S. support for a two-state solution as the only way to provide hope to Israelis and Palestinians that they can live with equal measures of security, of peace and dignity.
His remarks about equal measures for Israelis and Palestinians seemed to shift the tone from Donald Trump s administration, which cut aid to the Palestinian Authority and unveiled a Middle East peace plan with strong Israeli backing but no support from Palestinians.
US Vows Support For Gaza Truce But No Benefit For Hamas By Jonah Mandel
05/25/21 AT 7:51 AM
US top diplomat Antony Blinken on Tuesday vowed support to help rebuild the battered Gaza Strip and shore up a truce between Hamas and Israel, but insisted the territory s Islamist militant rulers would not benefit from any aid.
Blinken s tour, which started in Israel and will also take him to neighbouring Egypt and Jordan, comes as unrest still grips parts of annexed east Jerusalem after Friday s ceasefire ended 11 days of fighting in and around the Gaza Strip.
At a joint news conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas later in the West Bank, Blinken warned that Washington would not allow international aid to rebuild impoverished Gaza to benefit Hamas.
7 hours ago Palestinian relatives of Ahmed Al-Fahid, who was killed by Israeli troops, mourn during his funeral in al-Am ari refugee camp. Reuters
A Palestinian man was shot and killed by undercover Israeli forces early on Tuesday near Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority is headquartered, according to the PA s official Wafa news agency. Pictures circulating online appeared to show the man, identified as Ahmed
Jamil Fahed, bloodied and lying in the street. The Israeli army referred questions to the Border Police, which did not respond to requests for comment.
Palestinians carry the body of Ahmed Al Fahid, who was killed by Israeli troops, during his funeral in the West Bank. Reuters
Netanyahu warned Hamas not to break the calm following Friday s ceasefire
He spoke following talks with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Tuesday
Blinken is in Jerusalem for discussions on firming up the days-old truce
He will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas later today but will not meet Hamas, the militants that run Gaza and are declared a terror group by the US
Eleven days of fighting killed 253 Palestinians and 12 people in Israel