The Azerbaijan State News Agency

WORLD

Blinken to discuss cease-fire push, post-war Gaza plans at talks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt

Blinken to discuss cease-fire push, post-war Gaza plans at talks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt

Baku, March 19, AZERTAC

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt this week for talks that he said will focus on pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza, the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants, and planning for a post-war Gaza, VOA News reported.

Speaking Tuesday during a visit to the Philippines, Blinken told reporters that there will need to be arrangements in place for how to approach governance, security, humanitarian assistance and redevelopment of Gaza.

Blinken said the United States has impressed upon Israel the imperative of having a plan, and that the hope remains the conflict will end as soon as possible.

Much of the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure and homes have been leveled as Israel pursued its campaign to eliminate the Hamas militant group following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people according to Israeli tallies and included the capture of about 250 hostages.

The Gaza health ministry says the Israeli counteroffensive has killed nearly 32,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. More than half of Gaza’s population has been displaced.

Blinken described what he called the “horrific humanitarian situation” in Gaza, citing United Nations reports that the entire population needs humanitarian aid.

“According to the most respected measure of these things, 100% of the population of Gaza is at severe level of acute food insecurity,” Blinken said. “That’s the first time an entire population has been so classified.”

Blinken expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself and ensure another attack like the one on Oct. 7 does not happen again, but he also said it is “absolutely incumbent on Israel” to prioritize protecting civilians and providing for those who are desperately in need of humanitarian aid.

Blinken blamed Hamas for the current situation in Gaza, saying the terror group initiated the attack on Israel and could have stopped the war if it put down its arms, did not hide behind civilians and released the hostages it is still holding.

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time in more than a month, voicing new concerns about Israel’s conduct of its war in Gaza against Hamas militants and its plan for a ground attack on the southern city of Rafah near the Egyptian border.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden told the Israeli leader in a phone call, “We share the goal of defeating Hamas, we just believe you need a coherent and sustainable strategy to make that happen."

Sullivan called Netanyahu’s plan for a ground offensive “smashing into” Rafah a “mistake.” More than a million Palestinians are sheltering in makeshift tents and structures there to try to protect themselves from the ravages of the war, many on orders from the Israeli military to abandon their homes in the northern reaches of Gaza as Israel continues to attack that region.

Israel has promised to move the Palestinians in Rafah to an undisclosed location for their safety before any attack on the region but has given no public indication of where that would be.

At Biden’s request, Sullivan said Netanyahu agreed to send a team of Israeli officials to Washington in the coming days, possibly early next week, to discuss Israel’s plans for any attack on Rafah and providing safety for Palestinians sheltering there.

Sullivan said the U.S. “fully expects” Israel to not initiate any attack on Rafah until after the discussions in Washington.

In a statement after the Biden-Netanyahu call, the Israeli leader’s office said, “We talked about the latest developments in the war, including Israel’s commitment to achieving all the goals of the war: the elimination of Hamas, the release of all our hostages, and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel — while providing the necessary humanitarian aid that helps achieve these goals.”

The Biden phone call with Netanyahu came as the U.S. leader has voiced growing frustration at Israel’s conduct of the war, the ever-growing death toll of Palestinian civilians and the lack of humanitarian aid reaching famished people in Gaza.

Negotiators for Israel and Hamas are headed to Qatar to try again this week to reach agreement on a six-week cease-fire and the release of 40 or so of the estimated 100 hostages Hamas is still holding in exchange for dozens of Palestinians Israel has jailed.

But Sullivan said of the truce negotiations: "So far, this deal has been more elusive than we had hoped."

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

Trial continues for individuals of Armenian origin accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war and other grave crimes

Azerbaijan, Armenia exchange views on clarifying fate of missing persons

Nizami Ganjavi International Center hosts official reception on 13th Global Baku Forum

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry outlines main priorities for 2025

President Ilham Aliyev attended inauguration of new park near “Ganjlik” metro station in Baku VIDEO

® Baku hosts conference on innovative digitalization solutions

Astana hosts 2nd meeting of Council of Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation

SBI Markets: Azerbaijan's investment climate is positive - INTERVIEW

Tesla sales crash in Germany as CEO Musk continues political activism

Azerbaijani MPs to attend Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in New York

January 2025 transfer window breaks multiple records in both men’s and women’s football

Online sales of Azerbaijani products launch in Turkmenistan

Azerbaijan's figure skater grabs bronze in Italian tournament

Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos signs for Liga MX's Monterrey

'Ionic wind' vortex ring launchers extinguish fires cleanly and safely

Azerbaijani freestyle wrestlers claim two more medals in Zagreb Open 2025 Ranking Series

Bank Respublika starts cooperation with Baku Higher Oil School

FIFA suspends Congolese Football Association and Pakistan Football Federation

6.0-magnitude quake hits south of Fiji Islands

Head of Presidential Administration Samir Nuriyev introduces new Minister of Finance to staff

Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel

The Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
On appointing A.R.Aliyev as Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Two dead after plane crashes into vehicles on busy road in Sao Paulo

Azerbaijani Para taekwondo fighters aim for 'medal rush' in Turkish tournament

Somali Council of Ministers approves cooperation agreements with Azerbaijan

Severe weather disrupts air traffic in South Korea

Kazakhstan ranks among world's top 50 countries for FDI

® Solid business performance and record tax payments by Carlsberg Azerbaijan in 2024

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expresses gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev on behalf of Turkish people

Amazon follows Google, Meta, and Microsoft with plans to boost spending on AI

“Garabagh University Clinic” public legal entity to be established - ORDER

Magnitude 3.1 quake jolts Caspian Sea

Alaska authorities search for missing passenger plane with 10 on board

Scientists predict devastation if asteroid Bennu strikes Earth in 2182

Azerbaijan and Slovakia hold first consular consultations

Bulgarian scientists developing antibacterial surfaces for restoring damaged bone tissue

Premier League considers cutting winter transfer window to two weeks

Azerbaijan sends additional humanitarian aid consisting of electrical equipment to Ukraine

“Winter Fairy Tale” International Music Festival to begin in Gabala today

Air pollution kills 100 children every day in East Asia, Pacific: UNICEF

Omega-3 supplements slow biological ageing

Overall, people feel better about life in the morning

7 killed in floods, landslides in northeast Brazil

Oil prices surge in global markets

6.0-magnitude quake hits Southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia

Azerbaijani oil approaches $77

Trial continues for individuals of Armenian origin accused of committing numerous crimes against Azerbaijani people

UEFA weighs up scrapping extra time for Champions League knockout rounds

Azerbaijan’s NGOs to present digital map of Armenia’s environmentally hazardous enterprises

2 pilots die in light aircraft crash in Moscow region

Azerbaijan names badminton line-up for upcoming European Championships in Baku

Commission on Combating Corruption convenes meeting

Russian Foreign Ministry confirms Moscow`s receipt of note verbale on terminating activities of “Russian House” in Baku

Symposium held at Central Military Polyclinic of the Defense Ministry

UK to make it easier to build nuclear reactors

® Azercell supports women entrepreneurs in Sheki

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry: Note verbale sent to Russian side, terminating activities of “Russian House”

January 2025 the warmest on record: Copernicus

Turkish officials mark 2nd anniversary of 2023 earthquakes

SOCAR and UAE’s Crescent Petroleum company discuss prospects for cooperation

The Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
On appointing S.R.Babayev as Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Three policemen killed, 5 injured in terrorist attack in Pakistan

Former Real Madrid star Marcelo retires from football

6th UAE aid ship arrives at Al Arish Port with relief for Gaza

Two young Azerbaijani badminton players enter BWF’s Top 100

Businessmen of Kyrgyzstan and China sign 19 agreements worth $700 million

Loon-like waterfowl from dinosaur-era Antarctica is oldest 'modern' bird

BSU, Suleyman Demirel University of Kazakhstan sign memorandum of understanding

SOCAR, Slovenian companies explore prospects for expanding cooperation

Belarus sends humanitarian aid to flood victims in Kenya

SOCAR, Tatarstan’s companies discuss cooperation prospects

Asteroid impact on moon blasted two grand canyons in 10 minutes

Central Bank fully covers $54.5 million demand at FX auction

Aircraft crashes in southern Philippines

Ombudsman: Armenia must provide accurate information on burial sites of murdered civilians

China’s BYD to launch electric bus production facility in Azerbaijan

Kazakhstan adds new route to Europe

Schizophrenia cases linked to cannabis use disorders nearly tripled over 17-year period: Ontario study

23 dead, 2 missing due to heavy rains in Bolivia

Russia ready for serious conversation about achieving peace in Ukraine — ambassador to UK

Iran unveils its first homegrown drone carrier

AC Milan put three past Roma, into Coppa Italia semis

Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy send Newcastle into second Carabao Cup final in three seasons

‘Slidetronics’: Breakthrough in atomic layer manipulation could transform computing

“Azeristiliktəchizat” OJSC migrates to Government Cloud

Oil prices surge in global markets

Driving licences issued in Moldova to be recognized in United Arab Emirates

3 killed in helicopter crash in northern Italy

Azerbaijani oil price falls below $77

Gonzalo puts Real Madrid into semi-finals with 93rd-minute winner

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing

Galatasaray sign Lemina from Wolves for £2m

Argentina announces withdrawal from WHO

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister visits Somalia

PASHA Holding hosts Azerbaijan’s first regional LEGIS Legal Forum

European data centre space shortage expected in 2025 as AI booms

® “Azerbaijan Children Hotline” publishes results for 2024

Azerbaijan to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine again

Apple upheld market cap dominance in January while Meta earned the most among top 10

From Bajram Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania