Blinken will emphasise to Israel's Gallant the need for post-war Gaza plan
World
US Secretary of State Blinken called Monday for efforts to avoid further escalation in Lebanon.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Monday (Jun 24) for efforts to avoid further escalation in Lebanon in talks with Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant.
Blinken "underscored the importance of avoiding further escalation of the conflict and reaching a diplomatic resolution that allows both Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
Earlier the US State Department said Blinken would also emphasize to Gallant the importance of Israel swiftly developing a robust and realistic plan for the governance of Gaza for when the war is over, the US State Department said ahead of meetings.
Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told a press briefing that the top US diplomat will also discuss with Gallant, who is visiting Washington this week and meeting with senior US officials, the need to avoid further escalation of the Gaza conflict and to improve humanitarian access.
"We look to make progress on all of these issues," Miller said.
Gallant came to the State Department moments before his scheduled meeting with Blinken at 1 pm. A small group of protesters outside the building chanted while holding a Palestinian flag as he entered.
He described his meetings in Washington, including the one with Blinken as "critical", according to comments released by his office.
"The meetings we are holding are extremely important and impactful on the future of the war in Gaza and our ability to achieve the goals of the war, on developments on the northern border, and other areas," Gallant said.
US SAYS ISRAEL NEEDS POST-WAR PLAN FOR GAZA
Washington has repeatedly urged Israel to craft a post-war plan for Gaza and warned that the absence of it could trigger lawlessness and chaos as well as a comeback by Hamas in the enclave. To date, Israel has yet to present such a plan.
"We have been quite consistent that for there to be an enduring defeat of Hamas, there needs to be a plan for what replaces them and what replaces that needs to be Palestinian-led governance, needs to be realistic security plans," Miller said, repeating that Washington was against Israel reoccupying Gaza.
He added there was still no agreement with Israel on the issue even if Israel was telling Washington that it was getting close to ending major combat operations in Rafah.
"We do not want to see them reoccupy Gaza, which is why we continue to push for an alternative to that," Miller said.
The war started when Palestinian Hamas militants burst over the border and attacked Israel on Oct 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage.
The Israeli offensive in retaliation has killed almost 37,600 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, and has left Gaza in ruins.
Aside from Blinken, Gallant met with Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk, senior advisers to US President Joe Biden as well as CIA Director Bill Burns. He is due to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday.
