FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the media following the closed-door morning talks between the United States and China upon conclusion of their two-day meetings in Anchorage, Alaska March 19, 2021.
The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that US is sending a diplomat to urge Israelis and Palestinians to calm “harrowing” violence.
Blinklen said that Israel had a particular responsibility to avoid civilian casualties.
“The images that came out overnight are harrowing,” Blinken said. “I have asked Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Hady Amr to go to the region immediately to meet with Israelis and Palestinians … he will urge, on my behalf and on behalf of President (Joe) Biden, a de-escalation of violence.”
Israel said it killed 16 members of the Hamas military wing in a air strike on Gaza on Wednesday and Palestinian militants rained rockets into Israel as global concern mounted over their most intense hostilities in years.
Blinken said both sides must stop violence. He drew a distinction between “a terrorist organization, Hamas, that is indiscriminately raining down rockets in fact targeting civilians, and Israel’s response, defending itself.”
