Even before Israel’s ground offensive begins, Blinken urges 'humanitarian pauses'

Israel has not launched its ground offensive yet, but U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has, nevertheless, begun to urge Israel to consider “humanitarian pauses” in the war against Hamas.

The war was initiated on Oct. 7, when at least 2,000 Hamas terrorists invaded the southern region of Israel from the Gaza border and brutally murdered 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals, kidnapped more than 200 to Gaza, all while bombarding Israel with thousands of rockets.

“Palestinian civilians must be protected. That means Hamas must cease using them as human shields. It’s hard to think of an act of greater cynicism,” Blinken said during the UN Security Council gathering to discuss the Gaza war.

Although around 700,000 Palestinians have fled northern Gaza several miles south, was instructed by Israel in its warnings to evacuate the southern part of Gaza, it is estimated that 350,000 residents still remain.

According to some reports, Hamas has threatened civilians from fleeing and this week gathered 30,000 residents near the Shifa Hospital in Gaza city to function as human shields. Israeli officials believe that Hamas is operating a command facility under the hospital.

Blinken demanded that Israel lift its siege on Gaza to allow food, water and other humanitarian assistance to enter the country, which he referred to as “humanitarian pauses” to allow for the aid to get in and the civilians to make their way south.

“It means Israel must take all possible precautions to avoid harm to civilians. It means food, water, medicine and other essential humanitarian assistance must be able to flow into Gaza and to the people who need it. It means civilians must be able to get out of harm’s way. It means humanitarian pauses must be considered for these purposes,” the secretary of state said.

At the same meeting, UN Secretary General António Guterres said that it would be a “disaster” if Gaza runs out of fuel.

On Tuesday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which operates in Gaza, posted a warning on X, formerly Twitter:

“If we do not get fuel urgently, we will be forced to halt our operations in the Gaza Strip as of tomorrow night,” the UNRWA wrote.

However, IDF officials reported this week that Hamas recently stole both fuel and medical supplies meant for refugees from UNRWA’s premises in Gaza City and responded to the UNRWA warning with a photo of Hamas’ fuel tanks.

“These fuel tanks are inside Gaza. They contain more than 500,000 liters of fuel. Ask Hamas if you can have some,” the IDF posted on X.

Blinken criticized world leaders who were unwilling to publicly support Israel’s right and obligation to respond to the terrorist massacre.

“It must be asked: Where’s the outrage? Where’s the revulsion? Where’s the rejection? Where’s the explicit condemnation of these horrors?” Blinken addressed the UNSC in reference to the Hamas atrocities on Oct. 7 that were well-documented.

According to the Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli strikes have killed more than 5,700 Palestinians, a number that many international journalists routinely repeat as fact, although they cannot be independently verified. In addition, the total number of fatalities being reported includes Hamas terrorists, as well as civilians killed by misfired Palestinian rockets.

Blinken also asked that UN Security Council (UNSC) members warn Iran not to open more fronts against Israel.

“Act as if the security and stability of the entire region and beyond is on the line, because it is,” Blinken said.

He recommended that the UNSC “redouble our collective effort” to work toward a two-state solution following the outbreak of the war in Gaza.

“The only road to lasting peace and security in the region, the only way to break out of this horrific cycle of violence is through two states for two peoples,” Blinken said, arguing that “Hamas does not get to choose”.

“Nothing would be a greater victory for Hamas, than allowing its brutality to send us down the path of terrorism and nihilism. We must not let it. Hamas does not get to choose for us,” Blinken stated, urging the United States and nations worldwide to choose a path to a more integrated and “normalized” Middle East region.