Saturday 27 / April / 2024
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken struck a hopeful tone in an interview with Saudi media outlet Al-Hadath, saying an agreement on a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages "is very much possible."
Blinken's remarks came as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin raised with his Israeli counterpart the "need to consider alternatives" to a planned Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel said it killed 140 "terrorists" so far in its operation in and around al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City in the strip's north.
WHO chief says land crossings needed to prevent famine in Gaza
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more land crossings for aid into Gaza are needed to avoid a famine.
"Children are dying from the combined effects of malnutrition and disease," he said, adding that this imperils "the future of an entire generation."
But, he said, supplies of ready-to-use therapeutic food cannot be safely distributed to where they are needed most.
"Recent efforts to deliver food by air and sea are welcome, but only the expansion of land crossings will enable large-scale deliveries to prevent famine," Tedros said.
He also said the WHO was "particularly concerned" about military operations in and around the Al-Shifa Hospital.
Blinken meets Egypt's Sissi on second day of Middle East tour
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Cairo on Thursday and met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
Blinken and el-Sissi discussed the negotiations to reach a cease-fire in Gaza for at least six weeks and secure the release of all hostages held by the Islamist militant group Hamas, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
Washington's top diplomat arrived in Egypt after stopping in Saudi Arabia and is set to travel to Israel on Friday.
Egypt, along with Qatar and the US, have been involved in mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas.
