Gaza cease-fire talks may be 'last opportunity,' Blinken warns in Israel
This may be the “last opportunity” to end Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip and free the hostages who remain held in the enclave, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Monday, leading the push for a deal given new urgency by fears of a wider regional conflict with Iran.
This may be the “last opportunity” to end Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip and free the hostages who remain held in the enclave, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Monday, leading the push for a deal given new urgency by fears of a wider regional conflict with Iran.
Cease-fire talks have reached a "decisive moment," Blinken said as he met with Israeli leaders on his ninth trip to the Middle East since the fighting began.
Speaking in Tel Aviv ahead of a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Blinken said the new round of negotiations were "probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a cease-fire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security."
He then held what he called a “very productive” meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Blinken said Netanyahu had accepted a bridging proposal for a cease-fire deal and it was “now incumbent on Hamas to do the same.”
The U.S. and fellow mediators have voiced optimism, but the talks have so far failed to produce a clear breakthrough, while Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for the lack of progress.
Rating: 5