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Blinken to travel to Qatar tomorrow

Qatari mediators tried to negotiate for the release of women and children held hostage in Gaza.

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by EMMANUEL WANJALA

News12 October 2023 - 14:54
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In Summary


  • • Meanwhile, Blinken vowed unending US support for Israel during a visit to the country.
  • • "You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists you will never, ever have to," he said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on October 12, 2023.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is travelling to Qatar tomorrow to meet with senior officials.

Earlier this week, Qatari mediators tried to negotiate for the release of women and children held hostage in Gaza in exchange for 36 women in Israeli prisons.

Qatar had confirmed it was involved in mediation talks, but Israel denied any negotiations were happening when asked by the Reuters news agency.

Meanwhile, Blinken vowed unending US support for Israel during a visit to the country.

"You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists you will never, ever have to," he said.

He added that how Israel defends itself "matters" and "it is so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians".

After his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken  met President Isaac Herzog.

In a short joint news conference, the president thanked the US for "caring" for Israel in its "time of need in one of the darkest hours we've endured" since the establishment of state of Israel.

Blinken reaffirmed that he was in the country with one message: "The United States stands with Israel today, tomorrow, every day".

Earlier, Israel said the siege of Gaza would not end until Israeli hostages were released.

"No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter," said energy minister Israel Katz.

At least 150 hostages were taken into Gaza during Hamas's deadly attacks on Israel at the weekend that killed 1,300 people.

More than 1,300 have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory air strikes, with 338,000 displaced.

On Wednesday, the only power station in Gaza ran out of fuel, meaning the territory is relying on generators.

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