US says ‘now is the time’ to end war in Gaza

American Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on tour in the Middle East, called on Israel on Wednesday to avoid “further escalation” in its response to the Iranian missile attack against Israeli territory on October 1. On the contrary, during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, he estimated Tuesday that the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinouar offered an “important opportunity” to end the war in Gaza, at a time when Israel is increasing strikes in Lebanon against Hezbollah, an ally of the Palestinian Islamist movement.

Tuesday evening, Israeli airstrikes targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of the Lebanese Islamist movement, largely deserted by its residents, a month after the start of the war in Lebanon, the death toll of which exceeds 1,500. Several bombings had already targeted these neighborhoods during the day, one of which hit an 11-story building which collapsed like a house of cards.

A positive effect for the return of hostages

During his meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, the Israeli Prime Minister assured his American interlocutor that the death of Sinouar “could have a positive effect on the return of the hostages” held in Gaza. Yahya Sinouar was considered the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked the war. His death was a severe blow to Hamas, which Israel had promised to destroy. Especially since Israel also confirmed, on Tuesday, having killed in a strike on Beirut at the beginning of October Hachem Safieddine, the expected successor at the head of Hezbollah of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the movement also killed in a bombing on September 27 .

In the meantime, Antony Blinken also urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take “additional measures” to allow humanitarian aid, controlled by Israel, to “reach civilians from one end to the other” of the besieged Palestinian territory, according to the State Department.

At least 42,718 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed in the Israeli retaliatory offensive in Gaza, according to data from the Hamas government’s Health Ministry, deemed reliable by the UN. And millions of people have been displaced, causing a massive humanitarian crisis.

Normalize relations with Saudi Arabia

Before flying to Saudi Arabia, the American Secretary of State called on Israel on Wednesday to seize the “incredible opportunity” to normalize its relations with Saudi Arabia, a heavyweight in the Middle East. Negotiations which were well advanced before the start of the war in Gaza. “This remains, despite what happens, an incredible opportunity in this region to move in a completely different direction that offers a lasting path for Israel’s security and its place in the region,” Antony Blinken said at his office. departure from Tel Aviv for the oil monarchy. “Saudi Arabia would be at the heart of this, which includes a potential normalization of relations with Israel. »