‘Displaced Palestinians Must Be Able To Return Home’ : Antony Blinken (image-
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that the displaced Palestinian civilians must be able to return home rejecting the Israel officials call for massive displacement of Gaza residents.
He said this following statement while speaking at a press conference in Doha alongside Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The United Nations can play a crucial role in bringing back the displaced Palestinians back to their homes as the Israel moves to a ‘lower-intensity phase’ of its military campaign.
The US diplomat also condemned the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Hamza Dahdouh by an Israel air strike on Sunday. Hamza was the son of Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief and correspondent Wael Dahdouh. Blinken called it as an ‘unimaginable tragedy’.
Hamza was killed along with his fellow journalist Mustafa Thuraya in an Israel strike on southern Gaza.
In an earlier strike, Wael had lost his several members of his family. “I can’t begin to imagine the horror that he’s experienced – not once, but now twice,” Blinken said.
He while talking about the return of the displaced said, “They cannot- they must not- be pressed to leave Gaza”.
Blinken while expressing his sorrow over Dahdouh’s loss, US, in recent last two weeks issued emergency declarations twice to deliver bombs to Israel without congressional oversight.
He said that all US weapons deliveries to any country, including Israel are made with conditions that humanitarian law is respected. Israel has a right to target Hamas and to ensure that the group no longer launch attacks, he added.
“As operations phase down, that will certainly make it easier to ensure that civilians are not harmed and will also ensure that more assistance can get to people who need it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Al Thani said that the world has got used to the images of Palestinian suffering. “This is a big test for our humanity,” he said.
He also added that the killing of Hamas deputy political leader Saleh-al-Arouri has effected the negotiation talk mediated by Qatar between the Palestine group and Israel over freeing the captives.
Al Thani along with Blinken discussed efforts to reach a ceasefire and ensure the release of more captives.
So far, in Palestine, at least 22,835 have been killed including 9,600 children, according to Palestine officials.
