Minimizing civilian casualties in Gaza must be a priority: US Special Envoy David Satterfield
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Reported by Mahir Haneef
Every effort should be taken to minimize deaths and injuries of civilians in Gaza, David Satterfield, the US Special Envoy for Humanitarian Issues in the Middle East, said yesterday.
The special envoy was responding to a question from The Daily Tribune on the action to be taken to end the humanitarian issue of over 4,200 children losing their lives in Gaza since October 7, which is more than the number of deaths of children in conflicts worldwide in a year since 2019.
Mr. Satterfield said, “One innocent life lost is far too many. Thousands lost is simply unacceptable. As I answered to a previous questioner, we are doing all that we can to counsel, to work with, to provide assistance and advice of many different forms to Israel, to its military, to try to minimize the level of civilian casualties.
Secretary Blinken very eloquently spoke of the kick in the gut, the gut-wrenching image of children killed and wounded. It speaks to all of us in an indelible fashion. “This is a difficult campaign. Hamas has structured it to be a campaign that produces civilian causalities. But still every possible effort must be taken to minimize the damage, minimize the deaths and injuries, to all innocent civilians.”
Speaking at a digital press conference organized by the Dubai Regional Hub of the US Department of State, the Special Envoy said the US’ position is that the future of Gazans is in Gaza itself. “We believe strongly – I’ll reiterate the point again – the future of Gazans lies in Gaza, not displacement to other countries.
And I think that has to remain a fundamental point.,” Mr. Satterfield stated. The US does not, as a matter of fundamental principle, support or wish to see displacement of Gaza’s population and those now in the south must have every ability to return to the north when it is safe to do so, the Special Envoy said.
Future of Gazans
Talking about the future of Gazans, Mr. Satterfield said, “The issue of the future, the day after – the President, the Secretary of State, the spokespersons for the NSC and for State Department have, I think, been very clear.
We see a future in Gaza which is determined by Palestinians. We see absolutely a need to have a common address of West Bank and Gaza, no separation between the two.
Two-state solution
“We believe that a two-state solution is the only ultimate guarantor of a peaceful future for Israel, as well as for the Palestinians.
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