Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Wednesday, his newest cease on a Middle East tour as President Biden tries to cease Israel from invading Rafah, the town in southern Gaza the place Palestinians have sought shelter throughout the battle.
Mr. Blinken and different prime Biden administration aides are additionally calling for Hamas to conform to a deal to free some hostages taken within the Oct. 7 assaults in alternate for a six-week cease-fire and the discharge of some Palestinian prisoners. U.S. officers say they hope a brief cease-fire would result in a everlasting one.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned that he plans a significant assault on Rafah “with or without” a deal.
The cease-fire talks have been stalled for months, and Israeli officers mentioned Monday that that they had agreed to decrease their calls for. They are actually asking Hamas to free 33 civilians — ladies, older individuals and those that want pressing medical care — somewhat than 40. In November, Hamas freed greater than 100 hostages throughout a seven-day cease-fire.
Mr. Blinken mentioned the deal on the desk in his practically three-hour assembly with Mr. Netanyahu, based on a abstract from the State Department. He additionally spoke about efforts to extend humanitarian help in Gaza and the U.S. authorities’s “clear position” on Rafah, the abstract added.
Mr. Blinken, on the third cease of his journey, additionally met with President Isaac Herzog of Israel earlier on Wednesday morning at a resort in Tel Aviv as supporters of the hostages had gathered exterior.
“There is a proposal on the table, and as we’ve said, no delays, no excuses,” Mr. Blinken instructed the president and reporters earlier than the assembly obtained underway. He later met with just a few relations of American hostages held in Gaza after which obtained right into a motorcade to move to Jerusalem, the place he entered the non-public assembly with Mr. Netanyahu.
Yair Lapid, the chief of the opposition within the Israeli Parliament, additionally met with Mr. Blinken. Afterward, Mr. Lapid mentioned on social media that Mr. Netanyahu had “no political excuse” to not make a deal to declare a cease-fire and free the hostages, including that “every hour is critical.”
Mr. Blinken and different U.S. officers say Hamas has a slender window to take the deal since Mr. Netanyahu is urgent for the offensive in Rafah, which the Biden administration has warned might be catastrophic for civilians. U.S. officers say they would favor that Israel perform focused operations in opposition to Hamas leaders and fighters in Rafah, the place Israeli officers say Hamas nonetheless has 4 battalions.
U.S. officers have expressed mounting concern over the Palestinian civilian casualties within the battle. More than 34,000 individuals have been killed, based on the Gazan well being ministry.
When requested about Mr. Netanyahu’s statements on Rafah, Mr. Blinken mentioned that U.S. efforts have been centered on a hostage and cease-fire deal.
The situation of humanitarian help for Gaza has additionally been excessive on Mr. Blinken’s agenda within the Middle East. After assembly with Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Blinken started a protracted drive to southern Israel, the place he deliberate to go to the port of Ashdod, which has been processing help shipments destined for Gaza.
