June 25 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Secretary of the United States Department of State, Antony Blinken, has urged this Monday the Minister of Defense of Israel, Yoav Gallant, to avoid an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, within the framework of an increase in tensions between the Israeli Army and the Lebanese Shiite militia party Hezbollah after almost nine months of fighting on the border following the attacks carried out on October 7 by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
“He has stressed the importance of avoiding a further escalation of the conflict and reaching a diplomatic resolution that allows Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes,” said Blinken’s spokesman, Matthew Miller, in a statement after the meeting between both in Washington.
Likewise, the head of American diplomacy has addressed “the ongoing efforts” to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that guarantees the release of the hostages and that “alleviates the suffering of the Palestinian people”, while he has advocated for take “additional” measures for the protection of humanitarian workers.
He also presented Gallant with ongoing diplomatic “efforts” to promote security, governance and reconstruction in Gaza after the conflict, “emphasizing the importance of that work for Israel’s security.” Finally, she has reaffirmed Washington’s “strong commitment to Israel’s security.”
The Israeli Army and Hezbollah – backed by Iran and which has significant political weight in Lebanon – have been engaged in a series of clashes since October 8, a day after the attacks carried out by Hamas and other Palestinian factions. Since then, Gazan authorities, controlled by the Islamist group, have reported the deaths of more than 37,600 Palestinians.
Tensions have been rising in recent weeks and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently warned that the Israeli Army “is prepared for very powerful action” on the border with Lebanon. In response, Hezbollah’s ‘number two’, Naim Qassem, warned that an expansion of the conflict would lead to “devastation and destruction” in Israel.
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