US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration does not support proposals to mass-relocate Palestinians outside of Gaza as Israel broadens its military campaign against Hamas in the Strip.
“I’ve heard directly from Palestinian Authority President [Mahmoud] Abbas and from virtually every other leader that I’ve talked to in the region, that that idea is a non-starter, and so we do not support it,” Blinken says during an interview with Al Arabiya from Cairo.
“We believe that people should be able to stay in Gaza, their home,” the secretary adds after being asked about proposals to relocate some of the Gaza residents to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.
“But we also want to make sure that they’re out of harm’s way and that they’re getting the assistance they need,” Blinken says.
Israel urged all Palestinians living in northern Gaza to move south for their safety ahead of an expected ground incursion. Egypt has not opened the crossing on its border with Gaza.
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From the Liveblog of
Sunday, October 15, 2023
