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U.S. Secretary of State from Qatar: October 7 Will Not Happen Again
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced today, Thursday, after meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, that negotiators will meet in the coming days to discuss reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, reiterating his call for Israel and Hamas to come to an agreement.
Blinken told reporters after talks in Qatar, the main mediator in the negotiations, that he discussed options to capitalize on this moment and the next steps to move the process forward, expecting negotiators to convene in the coming days.
He also noted that Israel has achieved its objectives in Gaza and has ensured that October 7 will not be repeated, thus it is time to end the war.
He confirmed that negotiators would resume discussions about the next steps in Gaza, amid talks about a Palestinian administration for the territory and ideas regarding security and governance.
He emphasized that there is an opportunity for an agreement to end the war in Gaza and to bring back the hostages, explaining that he has proposed opening humanitarian corridors in Gaza after informing Israel of the need to take concrete actions to deliver aid.
He announced an allocation of $135 million in humanitarian assistance for Gaza.
Regarding Lebanon, he urged all parties to implement Resolution 1701.
He stressed that the Lebanese should work on completing constitutional institutions, announcing support for resolving the presidential vacancy.
He also highlighted that his country has conveyed to Israel the importance of avoiding a prolonged campaign in Lebanon.
He insisted on preventing further escalation between Israel and Iran.
