- Israel agrees to ceasefire proposal
According to the American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, Israel has agreed to the recent US-supported ceasefire proposal in Gaza. However, it's now up to Hamas to accept this truce, Blinken mentioned during his trip to Israel. Prior to this, Blinken had a three-hour discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benny Netanyahu. Post the meeting, Blinken described it as fruitful.
Blinken declared that he ventured to the Middle East with the intention of amplifying ceasefire attempts in Gaza and securing the release of captives "towards the end." He underscored the necessity of achieving this goal.
In a morning session with Israeli President Izchak Herzog in Tel Aviv, Blinken pointed out, "This is a pivotal moment, possibly the best, perhaps the last chance to retrieve the captives, achieve a ceasefire, and guide everyone towards a better path leading to enduring peace and security."
Later in the day, Blinken met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The discussion lasted for three hours, as per Israeli news outlets. This marks Blinken's ninth visit to Israel since the initiation of the Gaza conflict, which commenced over ten months ago. According to the U.S. Department of State, Blinken will continue to stay in the region until Tuesday and will then journey from Israel to Egypt.
Blinken's focus during his visit to the Middle East primarily involved efforts to reinforce ceasefire attempts in the Gaza strip, as he stated. Furthermore, he highlighted the significance of this truce in the broader context of the Middle East, emphasizing the potential for a peaceful resolution and improved security in the region.
