Blinken: Israel needs to do more to protect relief workers in Gaza

At a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné in Paris, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken laments “the record number of humanitarian workers who have been killed in this particular conflict.”

“They have to be protected,” says Blinken after the deadly Israeli strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy, in which 7 aid workers were killed. “We shouldn’t have a situation where people who are simply trying to help their fellow human beings are themselves at grave risk.”

Blinken says the US has directly urged Israel to initiate “a swift, a thorough, an impartial investigation to understand exactly what happened.”

He says the Israelis must do more “to protect innocent civilian lives,” be they Palestinians or foreign aid workers.

According to Blinken, the US and France both “agree on the need to get to the quickest possible ceasefire, to allow the release of hostages, to enable the surge and sustainment of humanitarian assistance.”

Blinken praises Israel for taking “important steps” on humanitarian aid, including opening the Kerem Shalom crossing, allowing flour in through the Ashdod post, opening Gate 96 to northern Gaza and facilitating the maritime corridor from Cyprus.

“It is simply put, insufficient,” Blinken adds. “It is not enough [for the Gazans] caught in a crossfire of Hamas’s making.”

Séjourné issues his own “firm condemnation” of the strike in Gaza.

He also calls for all hostages to be released immediately and without conditions, that all civilians must be protected, and that massive humanitarian aid must be delivered.

Answering a question about alleged Israeli strikes on Iranian officers in Syria, Blinken says the US is trying to prevent escalation, and that the US is “trying to ascertain the facts.”

He also defends continued weapons supplies to Israel, saying they go to defense, deterrence and replenishment against threats beyond Hamas, including Hezbollah and Iran.