Key takeaways:
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his “profound condolences” for the civilian lives lost in the explosion at the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza.
- President Joe Biden said he was outraged by the incident and that the United States would continue to investigate to determine “what exactly happened.”
- In his call with Abbas, Blinken also discussed “the continuing U.S. support for the Palestinian people” and the provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his “profound condolences” for the civilian lives lost in the explosion at the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza late Tuesday in a phone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The explosion, which killed hundreds of people, has been blamed on both Israel and Hamas militants.
President Joe Biden said he was outraged by the incident and that the United States would continue to investigate to determine “what exactly happened.” Hamas immediately blamed an Israeli airstrike, calling the attack a “horrific massacre,” while Israel rejected that claim, instead blaming militants it said had fired rockets near the hospital during a “failed” launch.
The incident was also discussed at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Wednesday, where U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the explosion and expressed his horror at the deaths. He also called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
In his call with Abbas, Blinken also discussed “the continuing U.S. support for the Palestinian people” and the provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance. He also reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to a two-state solution and the need for both sides to take steps to reduce tensions and restore calm.
Be First to Comment