TEL AVIV — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday called on Israel to capitalize on the momentum created by the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and the significant weakening of Hamas’ infrastructure after more than a year of intense conflict. Blinken emphasized that the time was ripe for Israel to secure a lasting end to the war in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters before departing for Riyadh, Blinken said, “Now is the time to turn those successes into an enduring strategic success.” He urged Israel to focus on bringing home the 101 Israeli and foreign hostages still held by Hamas and chart a path towards ending the conflict.
Blinken acknowledged that Israel had succeeded in ensuring there could be no repeat of the October 7, 2023, assault that had triggered the campaign in Gaza, but stressed that it was critical to take the next steps to conclude the fighting and address the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Gaza has been devastated by the Israeli military campaign, with much of its population displaced into temporary shelters. Blinken emphasized the importance of ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need, urging Israel to do more to facilitate the delivery of supplies.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has consistently maintained that Hamas must be dismantled, it has yet to articulate a clear vision for Gaza’s future once the fighting ends. There are concerns among Palestinians that Israel may be aiming to expand its control over parts of Gaza, potentially allowing Jewish settlers to return to areas they withdrew from in 2005.
Blinken, however, reiterated the U.S. stance against any Israeli occupation of Gaza and said he had received assurances from Netanyahu that Israel had no such plans. “It’s been U.S. policy, it will remain U.S. policy, and it’s also, to the best of my understanding, the policy of the Israeli government,” Blinken said, noting that the Prime Minister was the “authoritative word on these things.”
As the situation in Gaza remains dire, Blinken’s call for Israel to seize this moment highlights the complex challenges the region faces as the conflict continues.