US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu actions to ensure long-term security in the Middle East and end the conflict in Gaza, as well as the humanitarian situation, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Tuesday.
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“Blinken emphasized the importance of building on Israel’s successful efforts to bring (former Hamas leader) Yahya Sinwar to justice to release all hostages and end the conflict in Gaza in a way that ensures long-term security for both Israelis and Palestinians,” the department said.
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The Secretary of State also discussed the need to develop a new post-conflict plan that will allow Palestinians to recover after the end of hostilities, and also guarantee governance, security and reconstruction for Gaza. He also noted the need for Israel to take additional steps to increase and maintain the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, as well as to ensure that this assistance becomes available to all civilians.
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In addition, Blinken and Netanyahu addressed the issue of deterring further military aggression from Iran and its allies, and also discussed the efforts of the United States and its partners in this direction.
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The US Secretary of State, for his part, reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to ensuring Israel’s security.
