US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Tel Aviv as part of a Middle East tour aimed at ramping up diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
This marks Blinken’s 10th visit to the region since the conflict began in October. During his trip, he is scheduled to meet with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Following his visit to Israel, Blinken will travel to Egypt. The ongoing negotiations for a truce and the return of hostages from Gaza are at a critical juncture, according to a senior Biden administration official. Blinken’s mission is to impress upon all parties the urgency of finalizing the ceasefire agreement.
Despite extensive negotiations involving Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, significant differences have prevented a resolution, and violence in Gaza continues.
On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike in Deir Al-Balah killed at least 21 people, including six children, according to Palestinian health authorities. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the strike. They did, however, report the destruction of rocket launchers in Khan Younis and claimed to have killed 20 Palestinian militants.
In response to a report suggesting that Netanyahu was urged to show flexibility in negotiations, his office maintained that Israeli forces must remain in the Philadelphi Corridor, a border area between Gaza and Egypt, to prevent weapon smuggling.
Netanyahu’s office stated that he is committed to advancing a deal that secures the maximum number of hostage releases while achieving Israel’s war objectives, including preventing Hamas from maintaining control over Gaza.
Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, where violence has escalated since the conflict began, an Israeli man succumbed to injuries sustained in an attack, according to hospital sources.
