The United States has urged Israel to immediately investigate an Israeli air strike in Gaza that killed seven humanitarian workers, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday. Blinken again called on Israel to prioritize protecting civilian lives.
“We have spoken directly with the Israeli government regarding this particular incident. We urge a swift, thorough and impartial investigation to understand what exactly happened,” Blinken told a news conference in Paris on Tuesday.
Blinken added that humanitarian workers “must be protected.” “We should not be in a situation where people who are just trying to help their fellow humans are themselves in serious danger.”
Hours ahead of Blinken’s meeting with French Foreign Minister Stephane Serjeune, World Central Kitchen, a charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, said seven of its staff members were involved in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Killed. The organization announced it would cease operations in the region with immediate effect.
Serjeune strongly condemned the air strike at a joint press conference, saying the situation in Gaza “is catastrophic and getting worse day by day. There is no reason that can justify such a tragedy.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said the Israeli government will establish a joint situation room with international organizations to facilitate coordination of the distribution of aid in Gaza and Israeli military operations.
France submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council on Monday aimed at exploring options for a UN-monitored ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and proposing ways to help the Palestinian Authority hold itself accountable.
Last month, the United States abstained from a vote that would have allowed the 15 Security Council members to demand an immediate ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends next week.
Ukraine
Blinken also renewed his call on the U.S. Congress to provide military aid to Ukraine.
“We are at a critical moment where it is absolutely necessary to provide Ukrainians with what they need to continue to defend themselves, particularly in terms of ammunition and air defense,” Blinken said during a visit to a defense facility in Paris with France’s defense minister. “Sebastian Lecornu.
Congress has yet to approve the Biden administration’s supplemental budget request, which would provide aid to Ukraine’s armed forces and help the country defend itself against a Russian offensive.
Biden called on the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives to approve the military and financial aid package. House Republicans have delayed action on it for months, prioritizing domestic issues.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that if Kyiv does not receive military assistance from the United States, Ukrainian troops will have to withdraw “step by step and small steps.”
French Foreign Minister Serjeune visited Beijing earlier this week. France wants China to send a “clear message” to its close partner Russia on Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, he said after meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
France and China have sought to strengthen ties in recent years. Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to visit France in May.
At a meeting in Paris in February, Wang Yi told French President Emmanuel Macron that Beijing appreciated France’s “independent” stance. But Paris has also sought to pressure Beijing over its close ties with Moscow, which have grown even closer since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. and French officials say they are working closely to effectively prevent North Korea and China from transferring arms and materials to Russia, which could bolster Moscow’s defense industrial base.
The top U.S. diplomat will also express U.S. support for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization during talks with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
The United States and France have been Ukraine’s biggest backers in the two years since Russia invaded its neighbor.
The State Department said efforts to bring stability to Haiti will be another topic on the agenda for a meeting between U.S. and French officials.
Blinken will travel from Paris to Brussels to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of NATO.
While in Brussels, Blinken is also scheduled to meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
The United States, the European Union and Armenia are scheduled to hold a trilateral meeting on Friday, which the State Department said will focus on “U.S. and EU support for Armenia’s economic resilience as Armenia works to diversify its trading partnerships and address humanitarian needs.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will lead their respective delegations.
Separate U.S.-EU trade and technology talks will end Blinken’s stay in Belgium.
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