Hamas' Pressure On The US: Focus On Stopping Israeli Attacks On Gaza

Residents took a man after being evacuated from the rubble of the Bakr family building which was destroyed by an Israeli attack on Al-Shati, Gaza City (21/10/2023). (DOC. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - On Friday, January 5, the leader of the Palestinian Hamas group, Ismail Haniyeh, made a call to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to focus more on stopping Israeli attacks on Gaza. This attack has killed 22,000 people and caused mass refuge, hunger, and disease.

In the video message, Haniyeh expressed his hope that Blinken could learn from the last three months and realize the large-scale errors made by the US by providing full support to Israel. In addition, Haniyeh hopes Blinken can focus on stopping aggression and occupation throughout the Palestinian territories.

"We hope Blinken has learned from the last three months and is aware of the scale of the mistakes made by the US by providing full support to Israel," the head of Hamas' political bureau said via video message, reported by ANTARA, Saturday, January 6.

"We hope he (Blinken) focuses on stopping aggression and occupation throughout the Palestinian territories," he continued.

Haniyeh also urged officials of Arab and Islamic countries, who will meet the United States Foreign Minister, to convey that the future and regional stability are closely related to the non-negligible Palestinian struggle.

"The people and resistance (Palestinian) will not accept the occupation that always strangled us," he said.

Blinken is on a visit to the Middle East region until January 10, starting from Turkey on Friday evening. He will also visit Greece, Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, and the West Bank.

"I'm back in the region to carry out further diplomacy about the situation in Gaza," Blinken said in his post on X.

"I will continue to urge the protection of civilian lives and intensively coordinate with partners to ensure the release of prisoners and ensure the delivery of sustainable humanitarian aid in Gaza," he added.

To date, Israel has continued to attack the Gaza Strip since Hamas launched a cross-border attack last October 7.