#FarhanHaq, a #UN spokesperson, said the new smaller numbers reflected those bodies which had been fully identified. The bigger figures included corpses for whom identification has so far not been completed.
A long-festering split at the heart of #Israel’s #WarCabinet has burst into the open with the defence minister, #YoavGallant, challenging the prime minister, Benjamin #Netanyahu, to come up with plans for the “day after” the war in #Gaza, and saying he would not permit any solution where Israeli military or civil governance were in the territory.
…As #Blinken crisscrossed the region last wk, he stopped 3X in Israel, & included multiple engagements w/its #WarCabinet. Each time, he stressed #UnitedStates support & understanding of what Israelis had gone thru, but emphasized that “we want them to think soberly about what happens next.”
“Waging the war in a #humane way doesn’t just give #Israel a moral high ground, it also makes sense strategically,” said a US ofcl.
Last Mon, the WH decided that it would take #Biden to drive the msg home.
Before #Biden’s trip was announced, #Blinken participated Mon evening in what became a marathon session w/ Israel’s #WarCabinet, seeking to wrangle assurances on #humanitarian steps that could be taken to ease the suffering of #Palestinians to balance the political victory that #Netanyahu would gain from a Biden visit. Bibi… was facing heavy criticism in #Israel for failing to anticipate the #Hamas assault & waiting days to meet w/the family members of #hostages.
#Blinken, just finished a marathon 7½ hour meeting at a military base in Tel Aviv w/ PM Benjamin #Netanyahu of #Israel & his #WarCabinet. At 3AM local time Blinken addressed the world to announce the President #Biden’s visit.
Blinken said Biden's visit is meant to show unwavering support for Israel & that he would speak w/Israeli ldrs about urgent issues, including #hostages held by #Hamas & #humanitarian#aid to #Palestinians in #Gaza.