US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel says the US does not agree with Israel’s condemnation of South Africa as the legal division of Hamas, but also rejects the accusation that the country is committing genocide.
“That is not a characterization that I would make from up here about our South African partners,” he says in answer to a question.
“The allegation that Israel is committing genocide is unfounded,” Patel says.
He notes that over 7,000 trucks of humanitarian aid have entered Gaza since late October, but says it’s not enough, calling for more aid, and not only aid, to get in faster.
“More humanitarian aid needs to be flowing into Gaza, more commercial goods need to be flowing into Gaza,” he says, telling reporters that the issue was a centerpiece of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s talks in the region.
Patel also condemns Iran’s seizure of a Greek oil tanker, calling for the immediate release of the ship and its crew.
It calls the seizure the latest of a series of Iranian actions which are “a menace to the global economy.”
He says the US will consult with regional partners about how to respond to Iran.
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 11, 2024
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