In a series of meetings in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Tuesday, the US secretary of state met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and top military personnel.
Washington views the regional tour, which includes the meetings, as an opportunity to rekindle diplomatic relations following Israel’s murder of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza last week.
The story of Blinken’s in-person communication with the Israelis comes in the wake of growing criticism that the US has not been able to stop this.
The criticism has been repeatedly denied by Washington.
According to the person, the Americans answered that their Israeli counterparts needed to clarify this publicly after the Israelis informed them that the technique was “absolutely not” their policy.
Israel claims that the goal of its attack in northern Gaza is to crush a comeback by Hamas.
Blinken’s apparent warning on humanitarian aid comes after he co-signed a letter last week with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that threatened to cut off certain military aid to Israel unless it stepped up help in the northern Gaza Strip within 30 days.
