(AURN News) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a 9-day visit to India on Friday, highlighting the importance of fostering partnerships between the two nations. During the trip, discussions touched on various global issues, with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas taking center stage in diplomatic talks.
“We’ve sought to advance a number of critical objectives: minimizing harm to Palestinian civilians and maximizing the humanitarian assistance that reaches them; working to prevent the spread of the conflict; focusing on getting hostages home as well as getting American citizens and other foreign nationals out of Gaza; and working to set sustainable, durable conditions for genuinely lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Blinken said.
In a press briefing Friday, Secretary Blinken underscored the significance of the U.S. and India jointly supporting Israel amidst the current hostilities. While addressing the media, he reiterated the need for solidarity, emphasizing the shared stance of the two countries regarding the situation in the Middle East.
Blinken also outlined steps the United States has advocated for in an effort to address the conflict’s humanitarian aspects. Specifically, he mentioned the promotion of humanitarian pauses as one of the measures aimed at alleviating the impact of the conflict on civilians and allowing the release of hostages.
“These can advance all of the objectives that I just mentioned. We appreciate the fact that, yesterday, Israel announced four-hour pauses with three-hour notice in specific areas, as well as two humanitarian corridors that will allow people to move more safely and freely to get out of harm’s way and also to access assistance. These steps will save lives and will enable more assistance to get to Palestinians in need,” he stated.
The Secretary of State’s visit was aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties and collaborative efforts between the U.S. and India.
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