U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken participated in a meeting of Israel's "War Cabinet" on Thursday evening, reiterating the U.S. administration's position that the expected ground operation by the Israeli army in southern Gaza must be conducted in a manner that does not cause mass displacement of the population. According to Israeli public broadcasting "Kan", Blinken listened to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who indicated that "the ground operation will take several months." Blinken responded, saying, "I don't believe you have several months," to which Israeli officials replied that they would continue the war until the required achievements set by the Cabinet from the beginning were realized.
Blinken reiterated the U.S. administration's stance that the imminent ground operation must not lead to mass displacement, a demand that complicates the operational activities of the Israel Defense Forces, prompting the War Cabinet to reject it, as reported by "Kan." Israeli officials clarified that they would not reduce anticipated ground operations in southern Gaza in a way that leads to the displacement of residents. The War Cabinet agreed that the ground operation would be carried out fully according to field necessity.
Gallant told Blinken: "We greatly appreciate your personal commitment to this just war against terror, and we will fight Hamas until we win, regardless of how long it takes. This is a just war. This is a war to eliminate Hamas, the ISIS of Gaza. This is a war to bring hostages back home, and it will take a long time."
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated: "I have pledged and sworn to eliminate Hamas. Nothing will stop us." In turn, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed his support for the War Cabinet's position regarding the freedom of movement for the Israeli army as it resumes ground operations in the southern sector. In his meeting with Blinken, Lapid made clear his position that "the Israeli army must reach every place where Hamas terrorists are located."
During his visit to Israel on Thursday, Blinken hoped for an extension of the truce with Hamas, "classified as a terrorist organization in the United States and other countries," which allowed for the release of hostages and prisoners and the intensification of aid delivery to Gaza. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Blinken "emphasized during his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the need to consider humanitarian needs and protect civilians in southern Gaza before any military operation there."
Blinken reiterated U.S. support for Israel's "right to defend itself against terrorist violence within the framework of respecting international humanitarian law." He urged Israel to "take all possible measures to prevent civilian casualties." Blinken called for Israel to ensure the establishment of "safe zones" for Palestinian civilians in Gaza before resuming "large-scale military operations."
During a press conference in Tel Aviv, Blinken emphasized that Israel must "implement plans to protect civilians that further reduce the casualties of innocent Palestinians." He clarified that this "clearly and precisely includes designating areas and places in southern and central Gaza where they can be safe and away from the line of fire."
He explained that civilian protection plans require avoiding "significant additional displacement of civilians within Gaza," as well as preventing "harm to essential life and infrastructure such as hospitals, power stations, and water facilities." He affirmed that this also means "providing civilians who have displaced to southern Gaza the option to return north as soon as conditions allow," stressing that "continuous internal displacement must not occur."
He considered that Israel "is capable of neutralizing the threat posed by Hamas while minimizing harm to innocent men, women, and children to the greatest extent possible. It is their duty to do so." Blinken emphasized the U.S. position that "the tremendous loss of civilian life and the displacement on the scale we have seen in northern Gaza must not be repeated in the south."
