Blinken Stresses Urgency of Gaza Ceasefire Talks and Hostage Return
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored on Monday that the latest ceasefire framework between Israel and Hamas could be the final chance to secure the release of around a hundred Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip. The remark came as he met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv to discuss the path toward a durable halt in the fighting, Reuters reports.
He described the moment as decisive, possibly the best and last opportunity to bring the abducted home and achieve a truce. Blinken spoke at the outset of a meeting with Herzog, emphasizing the gravity of moving from negotiations to a tangible ceasefire. Reuters documented his remarks.
Blinken, on his ninth trip to Israel since the October 7 attacks, planned to hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and other Israeli officials. The discussions aimed to steer negotiations toward a ceasefire in Gaza after two days of talks in Doha to refine the pact’s details, according to Reuters.
The veteran U.S. diplomat made clear that Washington wants a deal soon and highlighted American military deployments in the region designed to deter Iran and the Lebanese Hizballáh group from attacking Israel, which could jeopardize the negotiations. Reuters relayed his stated concerns.
Blinken warned that U.S. forces are deployed to deter potential strikes from Iran, Hizballáh, and other actors, and could defend Israel if necessary. He reiterated these points prior to the Herzog meeting, as reported by Reuters.
Herzog, for his part, thanked the United States for its support and acknowledged the efforts of Egypt and Qatar, the mediating nations, in pursuing a ceasefire that would free the hostages. He stressed that there is no higher humanitarian objective than bringing the captives home, Reuters notes.
Despite the diplomatic push, Israeli operations in Gaza continued. In recent days, the Israeli military extended its operations to parts of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip and, for the first time, the central town of Deir al-Balah where many Gazans have sought shelter since the assault began on Rafah, Reuters reported.
More than 40,000 people have died and about 92,000 have been injured in the devastated enclave after nearly a year of Israeli raids, according to Gazan health authorities. Survivors remain congested in limited humanitarian zones with minimal access to running water or electricity while under ongoing bombardment, Reuters summarized.
As the fighting continues, the human cost remains stark and the international effort to broker a ceasefire remains a focal point of diplomacy in the region. Reuters provides ongoing coverage of the evolving situation and the international responses to the crisis.