US warning: do not pour gasoline on fire

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke at the high-level session between Israel and Palestine held at the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

CALL TO ISRAEL FOR CIVILIANS

Stating that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people and therefore Palestinian civilians are not responsible for its attacks, Blinken said: “This means that Israel must take every precaution possible to avoid harming civilians.”

Blinken emphasized the importance of protecting Palestinian civilians, saying: “This also means ensuring that food, water, medicine and other basic humanitarian aid can be delivered to Gaza and to the people who need it. “This means that civilians should not be harmed,” he said.

Blinken noted that they have fundamental beliefs that every civilian life is equally valuable in conflict, saying: “There is no hierarchy when it comes to protecting civilian lives. “Civilians are civilians, regardless of their nation, ethnic identity, gender or belief,” he said.

“IT WILL BE DEVASTATIC FOR EVERYONE”

Blinken also stated that they are determined to prevent the spread of conflict in the region, saying: “A larger-scale conflict will be devastating not only for Palestinians and Israelis, but also for people in the region and even around the world. “Don’t put gasoline on the fire,” he said.

Emphasizing that the UN Security Council has a responsibility in this regard, Blinken called for a common message to be sent to state or non-state actors considering opening a new front in this conflict against Israel.

Blinken said it is no longer a secret that Iran has been supporting Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis for years.

“IF IRAN ATTACKS OUR STAFF…”

Recalling that Iran’s proxies attacked US personnel in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks, Blinken asserted that they are not fighting a war with Iran, saying: “We don’t want this war to escalate, but if Iran or its proxies attack our personnel anywhere, We will defend our people and our security quickly and decisively.”

Blinken also reiterated that they believe the only way to achieve lasting peace and security between Israelis and Palestinians is through a “two states, two peoples” solution.

ISRAEL’S RESPONSE: WE NEVER CARE FOR CIVILIANS

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen was asked about US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement.

Claiming that Israel provides humanitarian aid, water, food and medicine to the region, Cohen told the AA correspondent: “We have never attacked people.”

Arguing that men, women and children are not the target, Cohen said: “We only target Hamas terrorists.”

Cohen stated that Israel acted in accordance with international law. (AA)