US Wants To Extend Battle Break In Gaza Extended, Foreign Minister Blinken: For Assistance To Those In Need

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Wikimedia Commons/US Department of State)

JAKARTA - United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday asked Israel to do more to distribute humanitarian aid to Gaza, including holding an extended battle break after Washington opposed humanitarian groups to conclude that Israel was not hindering aid.

Foreign Minister Blinken, speaking to reporters in Brussels, said Israel had taken several steps to increase aid, but these measures needed to be maintained in order to take effect.

Speaking of issues where Israel has not complied with US demands, Foreign Minister Blinken said Israel should cancel evacuation orders to allow those displaced by its operations to return home, continuing to deliver commercial trucks to Gaza.

"According to my assessment, perhaps the most important thing is that we need to see a real and long pause in the big areas of Gaza, so that aid can effectively reach those who need it," he said.

As previously reported, after a US 30-day deadline for Israel to take steps to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza ended on Tuesday, the State Department concluded that Israel did not hinder aid and therefore did not violate US law.

Eight international aid groups say Israel has failed to comply with US demands to increase access to aid, while food safety experts say that hunger is likely to soon occur in parts of Gaza.

Foreign Minister Blinken said Israel "has achieved its own goals" by eliminating the Hamas leadership and ensuring the group cannot launch another massive attack.

"This should be the time to end the war," he said.

Hamas is not involved in talks to end the war, but plans remain necessary for Gaza's future, something Blinken has discussed for months with regional leaders.

"We also need to make sure that we have plans for what will happen next," he said.

"So if Israel decides to end the war and we find a way to get the hostages out, we also have a clear plan so Israel can get out of Gaza and we make sure that Hamas will not come back again," Foreign Minister Blinken said.