Antony Blinken says Israel must still do more to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza

Antony Blinken. Pic/AFP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Israel to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip. Blinken, on his sixth journey to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, emphasised the importance of addressing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Speaking to Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers in Riyadh, Blinken emphasised the urgency of reaching a cease-fire deal to alleviate civilian suffering and create space for a long-term settlement. He acknowledged some improvements but emphasised the urgent need for additional aid.

Blinken emphasised the dangers that relief workers face and the significance of keeping them safe. He also expressed concern about the crisis spreading throughout the region and urged against allowing the Israel-Hamas conflict to grow further.

"The most effective way to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, to alleviate the suffering of children, women and men, and to create space for a more just and durable solution is to get a cease-fire and the hostages out," he said and added, "But we're also not waiting on a cease-fire to take the necessary steps to meet the needs of civilians in Gaza."

He further said, "We have seen measurable progress in the last few weeks, including the opening of new crossings and increased volume of aid delivery to Gaza and within Gaza, and the building of the US maritime corridor, which will open in the coming weeks. But it is not enough. We still need to get more aid in and around Gaza."

"We need to improve deconfliction with humanitarian assistance workers. And we have to find greater efficiency and greater safety and deconfliction is at the heart of that. And, finally, we have to make sure that we're focusing not just on inputs, but on impact," he added.

Blinken's tour comes at a time when emotions are high and there are renewed concerns about the Middle East crisis. The Biden administration is pressing Israel to avoid a massive military campaign in Gaza, emphasising the necessity of preventing the crisis from spreading throughout the region.

The situation remains dangerous, with serious concerns of future escalation. Blinken's visit attempts to address these issues and provide answers to the current dilemma.

With AP inputs