Providing more humanitarian aid to Gaza and discussing post-war planning for the enclave are among the topics that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss with Saudi and Egyptian officials during his visit to the Middle East this week, which aims to reach a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
“One hundred percent of the Gaza population is in need of humanitarian assistance,” Blinken stated, adding that it was “absolutely incumbent” on Israel to prioritize relief for those in severe need.
Extreme food shortages in portions of the Gaza Strip have now breached famine levels, and mass mortality is now imminent until a rapid truce and surge of supplies to communities blocked off by conflict, according to global hunger monitor Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has said.
“We’ve also impressed upon Israel the imperative of having a plan for Gaza for when the conflict ends, which we hope will be as soon as possible, consistent with Israel’s needs to defend itself and make sure Oct. 7 can never happen again,” Blinken added.
