21 May 2021; MEMO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday told Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi that America cannot continue to publicly support its bombing campaign in Gaza, Axios reported.
Calling for the assault to end soon, Blinken said the US could not keep opposing French efforts at the UN Security Council for a resolution calling for a ceasefire.
In his response, Ashkenazi said Israel still has military goals it wants to achieve in Gaza before it can bring an end to its offensive.
In a tweet yesterday, Blinken wrote: "I spoke with @IsraelMFA @Gabi_Ashkenazi about efforts to end the violence in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza, which has claimed the lives of Israeli and Palestinian civilians including children. The U.S. expects to see de-escalation on the path to a ceasefire."
More than 130 Democratic members of the US House of Representatives signed a letter calling for Biden to "facilitate the immediate cessation of violence."
"Too many people have already died. More will unnecessarily perish if America does not act with the immediacy this violence demands," the letter said.
While members of Congress were calling on the US to stop arms sales to Israel as a result of its onslaught on Gaza.
Some 230 Palestinians have been killed in 11 days of bombing by Israel. A further 1,700 were injured. Twelve Israelis have also been killed.
A ceasefire was declared yesterday and came into effect at midnight.
