UPDATE - Blinken says US cannot support major military operation in Rafah

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS; REVISES DECK; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday reiterated the US position on Israel's planned military offensive in Rafah, saying they cannot support "a major operation" in the southern Gaza city.

"We have been very clear about this, President Biden has been very clear about this. We cannot support a major military operation in Rafah," Blinken said at a news conference following a G7 meeting in Italy.

He said a major military offensive would have "terrible consequences" for the population in Rafah, where 1.4 million people have taken refuge from the war that started after the Oct. 7 cross-border incursion by Hamas, despite international outcry.

"In the first instance, it's imperative that people are able to get out of the way of any conflict and doing that, getting people out of harm's way, is a monumental task for which we've yet to see a plan Israel says it would invade Rafah," said Blinken.

"We urge the rapid implementation of Israel's humanitarian assistance commitments," added Blinken, underlining the need to improve distribution of relief supplies to all who need it.

- 'US has not been involved in any offensive operations'

Asked about reports that the State Department has recommended cutting military aid to certain Israeli units for possible human rights violations in the West Bank before Oct. 7, Blinken replied: "I'm not going to speak to that, except to say that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations."

Tensions have been high across the occupied West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip, which killed more than 34,000 people following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

At least 468 Palestinians have since been killed and over 4,800 others injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied West Bank, according to the Health Ministry.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in an interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Israel reportedly launched early Friday an attack on a site in Iran, but officials have yet to confirm. Tehran said there was no damage and it shot down three drones over Isfahan.

Tensions escalated after Iran’s retaliatory strike on Israel after an attack against its diplomatic premises in Syria.

Noting that the G7 condemned the "unprecedented" Iranian attack on Israel, Blinken said G7 countries would adopt additional sanctions or other measures in the days ahead.

"Our focus has been on de-escalation, on avoiding a larger conflict," said Blinken, adding that a big part of their approach has been to avoid wider escalation.

"That's a common policy across the G7, and it's very much our approach now. So, we've been engaged in efforts to avoid escalation. Those efforts will continue."

On the current state of US-Israel relations, he underscored that Washington is "committed in helping Israel defend itself and when necessary, participating in its defense."

When pressed on his reason for refraining from speaking about the reported Israeli strike on Iran, he said he would not "speak on what's been reported."

- China 'primary contributor' to Russia's defense security base

On Ukraine, Blinken said the G7 was "very clear in its unwavering support" for Ukraine against Russia.

He mentioned that more than 30 countries are engaged in negotiating and that some "have concluded negotiations with Ukraine on security pacts," adding that Ukraine needs more air defenses and more artillery.

"We're also working to strengthen efforts to disrupt the transfer of weapons, and also inputs for Russia's defense industrial base," said Blinken, who called out China, North Korea, and Iran on military support to Russia.

Criticizing China as the "primary contributor" to Russia's defense security base, he said: "If China purports on the one hand to want good relations with Europe and other countries, it can't, on the other hand, be fueling what is the biggest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War."

He also underlined that support for Russia from China, North Korea, and Iran showed that security in Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world are "indivisible."