Blinken Reiterates Biden Comments On Aid To Gaza

Speaking at the opening press conference ahead of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council in Leuven, Belgium, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken largely reiterates many of the comments that emerged last night from US President Joe Biden's call with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (see 'Biden Tells Netanyahu To Take "Concrete Steps" To Reduce Civilian Harm', 4 Apr 1840BST). Since the call the Israeli gov't has pledged to open up more humanitarian aid routes to Gaza, which Blinken said the US "welcomed". He added that "These are positive developments, but the real test is results."

• Blinken: "The US will look at the number of trucks getting in and getting around Gaza...US will also look at indicators of potential famine to see if they reverse....We're looking to see accountability for Israeli strike on WCK aid convoy."
• Blinken: "Israel's responsibility is to mazimise efforts to protect civilians."
• The Biden-Netanyahu call did not just demand greater aid provision to Gaza, but a more concerted effort to reach a ceasefire. With that in mind, the NYT is reporting that CIA director William Burns is set to travel to Cairo on 6 Apr for talks with Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials to further press for an agreement. NYT: "American officials believe negotiating a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas and the exchange of Israeli hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel is the only way to put a temporary cease-fire into effect and increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave."