On May 1, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he emphasized to Israeli leaders that the US opposes the plan to attack the city of Rafah in Gaza, and suggested that a “better solution” is negotiations. with Hamas forces.
Children collect belongings left in the rubble of a house destroyed after Israel’s attack on the city of Rafah, Gaza Strip on May 1, 2024. Photo: THX/TTXVN
Speaking to the press, Mr. Blinken declared: “The US position is clear, has not changed and will not change.” He said the US does not support a major military operation on Rafah without an effective plan that ensures that civilians are not affected, emphasizing that there is currently no plan that meets the above conditions.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would proceed with the plan to attack Rafah despite US opposition and whether or not Hamas accepted the ceasefire proposal in exchange for the release of hostages.
In other developments on the same day, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his French counterpart Stephane Sejourne had extensive talks on the tense situation along the Lebanon-Israel border, as well as the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
According to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Cairo, Mr. Shoukry called on relevant parties to be more flexible towards peace, and ultimately a complete ceasefire. The Egyptian Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of recognizing the State of Palestine with the 1967 borders, considering this an important step towards establishing an independent Palestinian State and implementing a two-state solution.
For his part, Foreign Minister Sejourne announced that France is ready to support the efforts of Arab countries to resolve the Palestinian issue, based on Paris’ stance as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. (UNSC) and a country that supports Arab issues, especially Palestinian rights. Mr. Sejourne emphasized France’s efforts to avoid causing further instability in Lebanon in the context of the conflict in Gaza, and emphasized that any ceasefire agreement in Gaza must be accompanied by a corresponding ceasefire. same in Lebanon.
The two foreign ministers also opposed any military ground operations in the city of Rafah because of the serious humanitarian risks and threats to regional stability. Both sides also agreed to support the efforts of the UN High-level Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, Ms. Sigrid Kaag, to carry out assigned tasks under Resolution 2720 of the Security Council to facilitate facilitate, coordinate and monitor the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
