US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making another emergency visit to the Middle East in an attempt to secure some hostages and salvage a cease-fire agreement.
Blinken said the war was the fifth since Oct. 7, when the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas led Jewish forces in launching a surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking hundreds more hostage. They are scheduled to leave on Sunday to visit devastated areas. The nation declares war on Gaza.
In a press release, top US diplomats said they would “continue our diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement that secures the release of all remaining hostages.”
Blinken also said in a statement that he would work to secure a “humanitarian pause” in Israel’s war in Gaza to expand aid to Palestinian civilians and ultimately reach an overall peace agreement. Ta.
Spokesman Matthew Miller added: “The President remains committed to preventing escalation of the conflict and reaffirms that the United States will take appropriate steps to protect its personnel and freedom of navigation rights in the Red Sea.” .
There is talk of a possible hostage deal underway, and while Hamas has said it will not release the remaining 100-plus hostages until Israel agrees to a permanent ceasefire, Israeli leadership has confirmed that the terrorist organization is completely wiped out. I refuse to do this until it is done. .
Hamas Politburo leader Ismail Haniyeh said the latest proposals on the table, from Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the United States, propose a cessation of fighting in exchange for all prisoners. Stated.
The proposal is believed to call for a one-day suspension of fighting for each hostage. According to the Times of Israel.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad discussed a possible ceasefire agreement on Friday, which called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops. According to CNN.
Barbara Leaf, the U.S. Middle East official, said she was not aware of any official “definitive response” from the Palestinian terrorist group, the paper said.
According to CNN, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Security Council that negotiators are working to obtain more aid for the Gaza Strip, but are unsure when that aid will be reasonably available. He said he did not know.
“We’re making that effort on the ground,” Thomas-Greenfield said. “I can’t give you a deadline for negotiations. Negotiations take time.”
Earlier this week, Mr. Blinken ordered a review of the United States’ recognition of Palestinian statehood at the end of the war.
Blinken also reportedly called for a review of the possibility of a Palestinian demilitarized state.
