U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv in Israel on Sunday as he begins a Center East tour with hopes of intensifying diplomatic strain for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza this week.
The journey marks Blinken’s tenth time visiting the area since October, when the battle between the terrorist group and Israel started.
The secretary is anticipated to satisfy with senior Israeli leaders, together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday, a senior State Division official stated.
After his go to to Israel, Blinken will journey to Egypt to proceed his tour.
BIDEN SAYS ADMIN IS ‘CLOSER THAN WE’VE EVER BEEN’ TO CEASE-FIRE DEAL IN MIDDLE EAST
Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived within the Center East on Sunday forward of a renewed push for a cease-fire in Gaza. (Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz/Pool/File)
A senior Biden administration official advised reporters on the way in which to Tel Aviv that talks to strike a deal for a cease-fire and launch of hostages held in Gaza had been at an “inflection point,” including that Blinken could be stressing to all events the significance of getting this deal locked in.
“We think this is a critical time,” the official stated.
“The secretary is going to use this trip, starting with Israel, to just continue to stress the importance of getting this done,” the official added. “I think it is apparent that a deal would not only be in the interest of the Israeli people but would also help alleviate some of the suffering in Gaza.”
SON OF HAMAS FOUNDER INSISTS ‘NO SUCH THING’ AS ISRAEL, HAMAS CEASE-FIRE UNTIL AYATOLLAH IS GONE
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, proven, is anticipated to satisfy with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week because the latter pushes for a cease-fire in Gaza. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Pictures/File)
Qatar, the U.S. and Egypt are mediating the discussions, although none have been capable of get Israel and Hamas to succeed in an settlement after months of on-off negotiations.
Netanyahu’s workplace launched an announcement on Sunday, saying serial leakers are harming the power to advance a deal.
“They claimed for months that Hamas would never agree to give in on ending the war as a condition for a deal, and proposed giving in to Hamas’s demand,” the assertion learn. “They were wrong then – and they are also wrong today. The Prime Minister has strongly insisted on this fundamental demand, which is vital to achieving the goals of the war, and Hamas changed its position.”
The prime minister’s workplace stated Netanyahu continues to insist that Israeli forces stay on a border strip between Gaza and Egypt, generally known as the Philadelphi Hall, to forestall weapons from being smuggled into Gaza.
“The Prime Minister will continue to work on advancing a deal that will maximize the number of living hostages and which will enable the achieving of all of the war objectives,” the workplace added.
Fox Information’ Yonat Friling and Reuters contributed to this report.
