WASHINGTON/TEL AVIV (dpa-AFX) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he also addressed the humanitarian situation in Gaza during his visit to Israel. They discussed how the “humanitarian needs of the people living in Gaza” could be protected “while Israel conducts its legitimate security operations,” Blinken said on Thursday after meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Izchak Herzog.
Blinken emphasized that the Islamist Hamas uses civilians as human shields. “This is nothing new, but something she has always done, which is to intentionally put civilians in harm’s way.” The US Secretary of State also said that during his visit he also discussed ways for civilians to leave Gaza safely. There had previously been reports that the US government was in talks with Israel and Egypt about opening a border crossing for civilians to leave the Gaza Strip. Rafah is the only border crossing from the Gaza Strip to Egypt. All other border crossings go to Israel./nau/DP/men