Blinken Urges End to Gaza War During Israel Visit
October 23, 2024, 1:22 pm

Blinken Urges End to Gaza War During Israel Visit

بلينكن \ تعبيرية \ متداول

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, just before leaving Israel, that "the time has come" to end the Gaza war.

Blinken told reporters before departing Israel for Saudi Arabia, his next stop on a tour of the region aimed at de-escalating tensions in Gaza and Lebanon, that "it is important for Israel to respond to Iran's attack on October 1 in ways that do not lead to greater escalation." He urged Israel to avoid "further escalation" in its response to Iran.

Blinken also stated that Saudi Arabia is an important player in the region before heading to the capital, Riyadh, as part of his tour.

He told reporters: "Since October 7 of last year, Israel has achieved most of its strategic objectives concerning Gaza. It is now time to turn these successes into a lasting and strategic achievement." He added, "There are two remaining issues: the return of the hostages and ending the war with an understanding of what will follow."

He commented on the aid provided to Gaza, stating, "Progress has been made, which is good, but more progress must be achieved, and, more importantly, it must continue."

The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that Washington completely rejects Israel's reoccupation of the Gaza Strip. He pointed out that the United States is working to reach clear understandings regarding governance and security in Gaza.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”