U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his visit to the UAE on Friday (Dec. 1) and is ready to receive a ** visit at Dubai's airport before returning home. Blinken said that despite the renewed fighting in Gaza, the United States remains deeply concerned about the safety of the hostages in Gaza. The United States is insisting that Israel come up with a clear plan to minimize civilians in the military operation in southern Gaza, the United States has revealed. The Israeli army attacked Gaza again, and the intensive bombardment in two days, killing more than 200 people, aroused deep international concern.
Washington wants Israel to shrink the fighting area and make it clear where Palestinian civilians can be safeguarded in southern Gaza, the ** noted on Friday (December 1). ** Says that in the current offensive, entire communities in southern Gaza should be designated as areas of safety for civilians.
The temporary ceasefire between Israel and Kazakhstan expired, the Israeli army resumed military operations, and the northern and southern parts of Gaza were attacked, especially the southern towns of Khan Younis and Rafah were intensively shelled, and the number of people continued to increase.
Hamas** in Gaza said on Saturday (2nd) that after the end of the brief ceasefire, 240 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes so far in the past two days, and another 650 people have been injured. It issued a statement accusing the Israeli army of carrying out hundreds of air and artillery strikes on Gaza, particularly against Khan Younis, where dozens of houses have been destroyed and the lives of those in these houses are uncertain.
The Israeli military said on Saturday that Israeli air force, navy and ground forces had hit more than 400 targets in Gaza since the ceasefire ended. Among them, warplanes launched a large-scale air strike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, hitting more than 50 targets. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at a news conference in California that the United States is pushing for a return to the truce through diplomatic efforts.
"We will continue to work with Israel, Egypt and Qatar to work to broker another ceasefire," Austin said. He blamed Hamas for failing to meet the conditions of the hostages and launching an attack on Jerusalem, which led to the resumption of fighting.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is visiting Dubai, also said Friday that responsibility for failing to extend the ceasefire lies with Hamas, which has carried out a brutal terrorist attack in Jerusalem that killed three people.
Before returning to Washington at the end of his visit that day, Blinken revealed in an interview that the trip was to seek to discuss the future of Gaza with Arab countries and how to put the Israeli and Palestinian people on a just, lasting and secure path to peace. But Blinken did not disclose the outcome of the discussions.
After a brief seven-day ceasefire between Israel and Kazakhstan and the exchange of hostages and prisoners, Hamas is still holding a large number of Israeli hostages. Blinken made clear that the United States is deeply concerned about the safety of hostages and remains committed to the release of every hostage held by Hamas.
In addition, the Israeli military confirmed on Friday that five hostages held in Gaza had died, the body of one of them had been repatriated to Israel and their families had been notified.
Israeli army spokesman Hagari said 136 hostages, including 17 women and children, are still being held.