US Calls For End To Gaza Conflict, Urges Israel To Avoid Escalation With Iran

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The United States is pushing for an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasising the need for de-escalation and a strategic shift.

Speaking on Wednesday, Blinken urged Israel to avoid further escalation, particularly with Iran, as the war between Israel and Iran-backed militant groups intensifies.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in over 1,200 casualties, primarily civilians. In response, Israel launched a large-scale offensive in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 42,000 people, also mainly civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, which the UN deems reliable.

Israel has also faced increased hostilities on its northern front with Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Wednesday, Israeli forces carried out a drone strike in Tyre, a coastal city in southern Lebanon, following warnings for residents to evacuate. 

The strike led to a mass exodus from Tyre, with local officials describing the situation as a full-scale evacuation.

Blinken’s visit to the Middle East, his 11th since the onset of the Gaza war, comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated to open conflict last month. 

Israel has been retaliating for an October 1 missile attack from Iran, and Blinken is pressing for responses that do not exacerbate the situation.

“Israel has achieved most of its strategic objectives in Gaza,” Blinken said during a press briefing, highlighting the need for a sustainable resolution.

He also underscored the importance of humanitarian aid to Gaza, acknowledging progress but stressing the need for continued and consistent support.

The US diplomat’s visit will continue to Saudi Arabia, where peace negotiations have stalled. Saudi Arabia has halted normalisation talks with Israel, demanding the establishment of a Palestinian state as a precondition for further discussions.

As fighting in Gaza continues, Israel has shifted some focus to Lebanon, intensifying air strikes against Hezbollah positions and deploying ground troops. Israeli forces have targeted key Hezbollah figures, including a cleric seen as the potential successor to the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has kept up its attacks, firing rockets into Israel territories, including military sites near Tel Aviv. The Israeli army reported the death of a senior Hezbollah cleric in a recent air strike, although the militant group has not officially confirmed the loss.

During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken urged a shift toward a ceasefire following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was responsible for the October 2023 attack. Blinken emphasised the importance of securing the release of hostages held in Gaza—97 of whom are still captive—and called for an end to the conflict that ensures long-term security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Despite the death of Sinwar, Netanyahu reiterated that the conflict is not yet over, although he acknowledged it could mark a turning point. Efforts to secure a temporary ceasefire and contain the regional fallout have so far failed, despite initiatives led by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.

In northern Gaza, where Israeli air and ground operations have intensified, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Medical facilities are struggling, with Kamal Adwan Hospital, the only partially functioning clinic in the region, reporting severe shortages of medicine and medical supplies. “Bodies are lying in the streets, and we can’t help them,” said the hospital’s director, Hossam Abu Safia.