Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has
issued an urgent plea to the United States, calling for an immediate
intervention to halt what he terms as Israel's war on Gaza. During a surprise
visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Ramallah, Abbas expressed
his demands for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a swift provision of
humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
Abbas employed strong language to describe
the situation, referring to the actions in Gaza as a "war of genocide and
destruction" and condemned the Israeli war machine's apparent disregard
for international law. The president also emphasized the Palestinian people's
rejection of any forced displacement from Gaza, the West Bank, or Jerusalem.
Furthermore, Abbas attributed full
responsibility to Israel for the current events, unequivocally stating that
military solutions would not secure safety for Israel and insisting on an end
to these actions. He reiterated the stance that true security and peace can
only be realized by ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a
Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
During the meeting, Abbas also affirmed
Palestine's commitment to the Gaza Strip as an integral part of the Palestinian
state, vowing to uphold responsibilities in pursuit of a comprehensive
political resolution.
Secretary Blinken's Middle East itinerary
included discussions with regional leaders and PLO representatives in Amman,
prior to his visit to Israel. In a press conference after these talks, Blinken
highlighted Washington's opposition to a cease-fire, suggesting it would play
into Hamas' hands. Conversely, President Joe Biden has been advocating for
"humanitarian pauses."
The backdrop of these diplomatic
engagements is the intensification of Israeli military operations in Gaza,
following a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7. The Health Ministry in
Gaza has reported a staggering death toll as a result of the ongoing conflict,
with significant casualties including children, while Israeli fatalities have
also been reported. The numbers portray a grim reality of the human cost of
this conflict, underscoring the urgency behind Abbas's call for intervention
and support.
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