Blinken suggests that the ceasefire talks might be the final opportunity to terminate the conflict in Gaza.
Biden's president of the U.S., Joe, instructed Blinken to "push this accord over the final hurdle" and see it through, Blinken stated. It was now time for the agreement to manifest. The U.S. was eager to avoid any actions that could potentially threaten the agreement and provoke a broader conflict, Blinken highlighted. Herzog, the President of Israel, emphasized that the primary objective was to secure the release of the hostages.
Blinken touched down in the Middle East on a Sunday, marking his ninth visit since the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which took place over ten months ago. His agenda included meetings with Israeli President Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Defense Minister Gallant in Tel Aviv. A trip to Egypt was scheduled for Tuesday, where Blinken was set to meet with the Egyptian government officials, as per U.S. State Department spokesman Patel.
In the heart of Egypt's Cairo, ceasefire negotiations and hostage releases, halted in Doha, Qatar's capital, last Friday, were due to resume in the coming days. The U.S. had presented a fresh compromise plan to both Israel and Hamas just a few days prior to this, advocating for a resolution of the existing discrepancies. A joint statement issued by the mediators, the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, reported that the proposal bridged the remaining gaps.
The conflict in the Gaza Strip ignited when Hamas launched a major assault on Israel on October 7. According to Israeli reports, 1198 lives were lost, and 251 individuals were kidnapped within the Gaza Strip. Since then, Israel has been heavily involved in large-scale military operations in the Gaza Strip. The morbidity statistics reported by the Health Ministry, run by Hamas, exceeded 40,000 people, but the accuracy of these statistics couldn't be independently confirmed.
The tensions escalated significantly following the assassinations of Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah's military leader Fuad Shukr in late July. Iran and its allies signaled their intent to retaliate against Israel.
Joe Biden, as the U.S. president, also expressed his support for Blinken's mission, emphasizing the importance of securing the release of hostages in the ongoing negotiations.
During his meetings in Tel Aviv, Blinken discussed the ongoing efforts with Israeli President Herzog, who was also motivated by Joe Biden's instructions to ensure a successful resolution.
