STORY: Israel should prioritize civilian protection in Gaza, says Blinken
SHOOTING TIME: March 13, 2024
DATELINE: March 14, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:15
LOCATION: Washington D.C.
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. Secretary of State
2. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. Secretary of State
3. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. Secretary of State

STORYLINE:

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Israel, while conducting its military operation in Gaza, should prioritize the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. Secretary of State
"We look to the government of Israel to make sure this is a priority -- protecting civilians, getting people the assistance they need. That has to be job number one, even as they do what is necessary to defend the country and to deal with the threat posed by Hamas."

Blinken told reporters during a press availability at the State Department, shortly after he met virtually with international counterparts to coordinate the creation of a maritime corridor for the delivery of vital assistance to Gazans.

The video conference was also participated by officials from Cyprus, Britain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the European Union and the United Nations, Blinken said, in an effort to implement a U.S.-led initiative announced by President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address last week that featured the establishment of a temporary pier in the Mediterranean Sea and off the coast of Gaza.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. Secretary of State
"When established, this corridor will enable the distribution of up to 2 million meals every single day as well as medicine, water, and other critical humanitarian supplies. This is something that's going to take time to actually put in place, although we're working on it as expeditiously as possible. And I want to emphasize: it is a complement to - not a substitute for - other ways of getting humanitarian assistance into Gaza. And, in particular, overland routes remain the most critical way to get assistance in and then to people who need it."

Biden administration officials said it would take weeks for the pier to become fully operational.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. Secretary of State
"Israel still needs to open as many access points as possible and keep them open to make sure that things are flowing in a sustainable way."

Blinken singled out the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, where he said an increase of screening capability and inspection capacity, among other measures, is needed "to get more aid in more quickly."

He also called on Israel to ease restrictions on key products and provide "much greater clarity, much greater consistency" on what counts for dual-use items.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Washington D.C.
(XHTV)