Blinken To Israel Before Proposed Humanitarian Pause Was Rejected: 'We Don't Want To Stop You, But Help Us Help You Get More Time'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly pushed for a humanitarian pause with Israeli officials regarding their military operations in Gaza that was later rejected, but not without making one thing clear. 

What Happened:  According to a report from Axios, on Friday, Blinken proposed a humanitarian hiatus, which the Biden administration believed would grant more time for Israel's ground offensive in Gaza. 

The suggestion came as the administration faces growing pressure both at home and abroad over its decision to fully back Israel over its operations in Gaza, where more than 9,200 Palestinians have been killed. 

Following Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, which claimed 1,400 lives in Israel, Israel has been conducting operations in the Hamas-dominated Gaza Strip. 

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"Blinken’s message, according to one U.S. and two Israeli officials, was: 'We don’t want to stop you, but help us help you get more time,'" according to Axios.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have maintained that any cessation of hostilities will only be possible upon the safe return of the 239 hostages Hamas seized during its attack. 

With a scheduled meeting in Jordan with Arab leaders, Blinken's diplomatic journey continues as he seeks to address the ongoing strife that has captured global attention.

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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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