Blinken Warns Israel That Humanitarian Conditions in Gaza Must Improve to Have ‘Partners for Peace’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv on November 3, 2023, during his visit to Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv on November 3, 2023, during his visit to Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
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Blinken Warns Israel That Humanitarian Conditions in Gaza Must Improve to Have ‘Partners for Peace’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv on November 3, 2023, during his visit to Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv on November 3, 2023, during his visit to Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Israel on Friday that it risks destroying an eventual possibility for peace unless it acts swiftly to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza for Palestinian civilians as it intensifies its war against Hamas.

In a blunt call for Israel to pause military operations in the territory to allow for the immediate and increased delivery of assistance, Blinken said the current situation would drive Palestinians toward further radicalism and effectively end prospects for any eventual resumption of peace talks to end the conflict.

"There will be no partners for peace if they’re consumed by humanitarian catastrophe and alienated by any perceived indifference to their plight," Blinken said.

The comments to reporters in Tel Aviv, following meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials, amounted to some of the Biden administration's strongest warnings since the brutal Oct. 7 rampage by Hamas that killed more than 1,400 civilians and soldiers.

But the remarks were also tempered by Blinken's continued support for Israel's "right and obligation to defend itself, defend its people and take the steps necessary to try to ensure that this never happens again."

He described being moved by additional video he'd been shown in Israel of violent and deadly acts by the Hamas militants who carried out the attack.

"It is striking, and in some ways shocking, that the brutality of the slaughter has receded so quickly in the memories of so many, but not in Israel and not in America," he said.

At the same time, he said he was also shaken by images of dead and wounded Palestinian children in Gaza.

"When I see that, I see my own children. How can we not?" he said, adding "Hamas doesn’t care one second or iota for the welfare and well-being of the Palestinian people."

Blinken also said it was imperative for Israel, regional countries, the US and others to begin considering what the future of Gaza will look like if and when Hamas is destroyed. "There cannot and must not be a return to the pre-October 7 status quo," he said.

He said the idea of Hamas remaining responsible for the governance Gaza, thereby posing a continued threat to Israel, was "unacceptable." But he also said that Israel could not re-occupy Gaza. He also reiterated that the US would act to deter any other countries or groups, like Iran or Hezbollah, from joining the conflict.

"Within those parameters we will continue to have discussions in the region and our partners about what should follow once Hamas is defeated," Blinken said.

But the complexity of the situation — and of Blinken's push for Israel to consider a pause — was laid bare on Friday when Netanyahu, after leaving the meeting with the American official, ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire "that doesn't include a return of our hostages," referring to some 240 people Hamas abducted during its attack.



US Imposes Fresh Sanctions Targeting Iran Oil Trade, Hezbollah

Supporters of Hezbollah carry flags of Hezbollah as they shout slogans during a celebration organized by Hezbollah in front of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, 25 June 2025. (EPA)
Supporters of Hezbollah carry flags of Hezbollah as they shout slogans during a celebration organized by Hezbollah in front of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, 25 June 2025. (EPA)
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US Imposes Fresh Sanctions Targeting Iran Oil Trade, Hezbollah

Supporters of Hezbollah carry flags of Hezbollah as they shout slogans during a celebration organized by Hezbollah in front of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, 25 June 2025. (EPA)
Supporters of Hezbollah carry flags of Hezbollah as they shout slogans during a celebration organized by Hezbollah in front of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, 25 June 2025. (EPA)

The US imposed sanctions on Thursday against a network that smuggles Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil and on a Hezbollah-controlled financial institution, the Treasury Department said.

A network of companies run by Iraqi-British national Salim Ahmed Said has been buying and shipping billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil disguised as, or blended with, Iraqi oil since at least 2020, the department said.

"Treasury will continue to target Tehran’s revenue sources and intensify economic pressure to disrupt the regime’s access to the financial resources that fuel its destabilizing activities," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

The US has imposed waves of sanctions on Iran's oil exports over its nuclear program and funding of militant groups across the Middle East.

Reuters reported late last year that a fuel-oil smuggling network that generates at least $1 billion a year for Iran and its proxies has flourished in Iraq since 2022.

Thursday's sanctions came after the US carried out strikes on June 22 on three Iranian nuclear sites including its most deeply buried enrichment plant, Fordow. The Pentagon said on Wednesday the strikes had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, despite a far more cautious initial assessment that had leaked to the public.

The US and Iran were expected to hold talks about its nuclear program next week in Oslo, Axios reported.

Said’s companies and vessels blend Iranian oil with Iraqi oil, which is then sold to Western buyers via Iraq or the United Arab Emirates as purely Iraqi oil using forged documentation to avoid sanctions, Treasury said.

Said controls UAE-based company VS Tankers though he avoids formal association with it, Treasury said. Formerly known as Al-Iraqia Shipping Services & Oil Trading (AISSOT), VS Tankers has smuggled oil for the benefit of the Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is designated by Washington as a terrorist organization, it said.

The sanctions block US assets of those designated and prevent Americans from doing business with them.

VS Tankers denied Treasury's assertions and said it will "pursue all legal remedies as necessary." Iran's mission in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The US also sanctioned several vessels that are accused of engaging in the covert delivery of Iranian oil, intensifying pressure on Iran’s "shadow fleet," it said.

The Treasury Department also issued sanctions against several senior officials and one entity associated with the Hezbollah-controlled financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan.

The officials, the department said, conducted millions of dollars in transactions that ultimately benefited, but obscured, Hezbollah.