Blinken Visits Jordan, Says He Will Press Netanyahu on Gaza Aid Measures

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Jordan on Tuesday to discuss measures Israel needs to take to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, which is facing a devastating crisis after six months of war. Blinken met with Jordanian King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to discuss aid and diplomacy efforts aimed at achieving a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The Gaza Strip is confronting a spiraling humanitarian crisis, with over 34,000 Palestinians killed and more than 1 million at risk of famine. The vast majority of Gaza's residents have fled their homes, and the enclave has been reduced to a wasteland due to Israel's relentless assault in response to attacks by Palestinian Hamas in October 2023.

Why this matters: The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in widespread destruction, loss of life, and a worsening humanitarian crisis that threatens the lives of millions. The international community, led by the United States, is working to address the urgent need for aid and to prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region.

Blinken acknowledged that there have been some improvements in the humanitarian situation, including the opening of new crossings and increased aid delivery. However, he emphasized that much more needs to be done to ensure aid reaches the people in a sustained manner, especially in the devastated northern part of Gaza. The Biden administration has urged Israel to take specific steps to better address humanitarian suffering and civilian harm.

During his visit, Blinken also called for redoubling efforts to bring aid into Gaza and praised Jordan's efforts to facilitate the delivery of life-saving assistance to Palestinians in the enclave. He met with the UN humanitarian aid and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, to discuss the ongoing relief efforts.

The U.S. is addressing the crisis by building a temporary pier to bring aid by sea to coastal Gaza, which is expected to be operational in about one week. Blinken also met with Palestinian women who had left Gaza during the war and still have family members there, hearing about the suffering they endured.

Blinken's visit to Jordan comes about a month after U.S. President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington's policy could shift if Israel fails to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers. Blinken is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu to discuss the steps Israel still needs to take to ensure aid reaches the people in a sustained manner.

"The best way to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza would be to conclude a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which has been presented with an 'extraordinarily generous' offer by Israel," Blinken stated. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of humanitarian relief workers and that the aid is making a proper impact.

Key Takeaways

• Blinken visited Jordan to discuss increasing Gaza humanitarian aid with Israel.
• Gaza faces devastating crisis with over 34,000 Palestinians killed and 1M at risk of famine.
• U.S. urges Israel to take steps to address civilian harm and aid worker safety in Gaza.
• U.S. building temporary pier to bring aid by sea to coastal Gaza within a week.
• Blinken emphasized need for ceasefire agreement and ensuring aid reaches people effectively.