United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Antony Blinken will use his ninth diplomatic mission to the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war to press for the quick conclusion of an elusive ceasefire agreement.
Blinken arrived in Israel yesterday before what mediators have billed as a last push to reach a deal that will take place in Cairo later this week. He will meet with top Israeli officials today before travelling to Egypt tomorrow.
Late last week, the three countries mediating the proposed ceasefire reported progress on a deal under which Israel would halt most military operations in Gaza and release a number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
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A senior official travelling with Blinken said his arrival in the region comes at a “critical time” in the ceasefire talks and the secretary will press all parties on the importance of concluding it quickly to end civilian suffering in Gaza and prevent the conflict from engulfing the region. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to preview Blinken’s travels.
Shortly before Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting there are areas where Israel can be flexible and unspecified areas where it won’t be. “We are conducting negotiations and not a scenario in which we just give and give,” he said.
