Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Wednesday, his newest cease on a Center East tour as President Biden tries to cease Israel from invading Rafah, the town in southern Gaza the place Palestinians have sought shelter in the course of the conflict.
Mr. Blinken and different high Biden administration aides are additionally calling for Hamas to conform to a deal to free some hostages taken within the Oct. 7 assaults in change for a six-week cease-fire and the discharge of some Palestinian prisoners. U.S. officers say they hope a short lived cease-fire would result in a everlasting one.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he plans a serious assault on Rafah “with or with out” a deal.
The cease-fire talks have been stalled for months, and Israeli officers stated Monday that that they had agreed to decrease their calls for. They’re now asking Hamas to free 33 civilians — ladies, older folks and people who 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 almost three-hour assembly with Mr. Netanyahu, based on a abstract from the State Division. He additionally spoke about efforts to extend humanitarian assist in Gaza and the U.S. authorities’s “clear place” 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 outdoors.
“There’s a proposal on the desk, and as we’ve stated, 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 personal assembly with Mr. Netanyahu.
Yair Lapid, the chief of the opposition within the Israeli Parliament, additionally spoke with Mr. Blinken. Afterward, Mr. Lapid stated 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 “each hour is crucial.”
Mr. Blinken and different U.S. officers say Hamas has a slim window to take the deal since Mr. Netanyahu is urgent for the offensive in Rafah, which the Biden administration has warned may very well be catastrophic for civilians. U.S. officers say they would favor that Israel perform focused operations towards 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 conflict. Greater than 34,000 folks have been killed, based on the Gazan well being ministry.
When requested about Mr. Netanyahu’s statements on Rafah, Mr. Blinken stated that U.S. efforts have been targeted on a hostage and cease-fire deal.
The difficulty of humanitarian assist for Gaza has additionally been excessive on Mr. Blinken’s agenda within the Center 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 assist shipments destined for Gaza.
