Antony Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel to avoid additional escalation in Lebanon during a meeting with its defence minister on Monday, as they reviewed efforts to free prisoners in Gaza.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant was in Washington to highlight the importance of Israel’s top partner, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly reprimanded the US over what he claimed was a delay in weapons supplies.
In a statement, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated, “In a two-hour meeting with Gallant at the State Department, Blinken discussed indirect diplomacy between Israel and Hamas on an agreement that secures the release of all hostages and alleviates the suffering of the Palestinian people”.
“Blinken also underscored the importance of avoiding further escalation of the conflict and reaching a diplomatic resolution that allows both Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes”, Miller continued.
Tensions have risen as Israel and Lebanon’s Iranian-backed militant outfit Hezbollah have exchanged fire more often.
Netanyahu has stated that Israeli soldiers are nearing the end of the most intense phase of the Gaza war and will redeploy to the northern border, describing the action as defensive.
Gallant also met with CIA Chief Bill Burns, the primary US negotiator in efforts to rescue prisoners from Hamas.
“I would like to emphasize that it is Israel’s primary commitment to return the hostages, with no exception, to their families and homes”, Gallant stated before beginning his talks.
“We will continue to make every possible effort to bring them home”, Gallant added.
Also read: France And Jordan Call On Israel To Lift Land-Based Restrictions On Gaza Aid
