U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts from Egypt and Jordan agreed on the need to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, but a clear point of division emerged on the question of a possible cease-fire. “It is our view now that a cease-fire would simply leave Hamas in place, able to regroup and repeat what it did on Oct. 7,” Blinken said at the news conference after the talks, referring to Hamas’ attack on southern Israel that triggered the latest Gaza war. German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said in a video speech Saturday to members of his party, The Greens, that “basically, Hamas must be destroyed because it is destroying the process of peace in the Middle East.”
Quick Read
- U.S. and Regional Diplomacy on Gaza:
- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and foreign ministers from Egypt and Jordan acknowledge the need to better protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
- Cease-Fire Stance:
- Egypt and Jordan advocate for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
- Blinken opposes an immediate cease-fire, suggesting it allows Hamas to regroup; instead, he proposes a humanitarian pause for aid and civilian safety.
- U.S. Perspective on Hamas:
- Blinken refers to the October 7 attack by Hamas as a trigger for the current conflict, implying a cease-fire would leave the situation unresolved.
- German Position on Hamas:
- German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck calls for the destruction of Hamas, blaming it for disrupting Middle Eastern peace.
- Habeck recognizes Palestinian rights to statehood but criticizes Hamas for not pursuing a peaceful solution.
- Germany-Israel Relations:
- Germany remains a strong ally of Israel in the conflict with Hamas.
The associated Press has the story:
U.S. Sec. of State Bkinken says: A ceasefire would benefit Hamas
Newslooks- AMMAN, Jordan
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts from Egypt and Jordan agreed on the need to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, but a clear point of division emerged on the question of a possible cease-fire.
Though the Jordanian and Egyptian foreign ministers urged an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Blinken took the position that that would be counterproductive and made clear the furthest he would go was supporting a humanitarian pause to give time for humanitarian supplies to be delivered and getting civilians out of Gaza.
“It is our view now that a cease-fire would simply leave Hamas in place, able to regroup and repeat what it did on Oct. 7,” Blinken said at the news conference after the talks, referring to Hamas’ attack on southern Israel that triggered the latest Gaza war.
GERMANY’S VICE CHANCELLOR CALLS FOR DESTRUCTION OF HAMAS
BERLIN — German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said in a video speech Saturday to members of his party, The Greens, that “basically, Hamas must be destroyed because it is destroying the process of peace in the Middle East.”
Habeck added, according to German news agency dpa, that Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack “requires a necessary consequence from Israel.”
The vice chancellor said that “the Palestinians also have the right to their own state,” but added that Hamas has no interest in such a solution.
Germany has been one of Israel’s staunchest supporters in its war with Hamas.
