The arrival of the US secretary of state comes after the United States and other mediators, Egypt and Qatar, said they were moving closer to a deal after two days of negotiations in Doha, with US and Israeli officials expressing cautious optimism.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Tel Aviv to try to seal a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas after more than ten months of war.
Mr Blinken’s arrival came after the United States and other mediators, Egypt and Qatar, said they were moving closer to a deal after two days of negotiations in Doha, with American and Israeli officials showingcautious optimism.
“This is a defining moment, this is probably the best, perhaps the last, opportunity to bring the hostages home, to get a ceasefire and to put everyone on the path to lasting peace and security.”Antony Blinken said during his meeting in Tel Aviv with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
On his ninth trip to the region since the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 7, Blinken added that he was “time to get there”, reports Le Figaro.
But Hamaswho did not participate directly in the talks, has expressed resistance to what he calls Israel’s new demands.
The proposal calls for a three-phase process in which Hamas would release all hostages taken during its October 7 incursion into Israel.
In return, Israel would withdraw its forces from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, accused Hamas of sabotaging efforts to reach a ceasefire.
“So far, Hamas has been completely stubborn. It has not even sent a representative to the Doha talks. That is why the pressure must be put on Hamas, not on the Israeli government,” he said.
As Blinken landed in Tel Aviv, Israeli officials showed reporters their preparations for a Possible attack in the port city of Haifain the north of the country.
Since the start of the war, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has launched drones and rockets at Israel almost daily, which has responded with airstrikes and artillery fire.
Violence has escalated, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes on both sides of the border.
“Israel is not in the best of neighborhoods. We have prepared for an attack and we are ready for anything. There are diplomatic attempts to defuse the situation, but we are ready for anything and everything on any front,” said Maj. David Avraham, head of the IDF’s international press service.
Separately, at least one person was killed and another injured after a bomb exploded in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening, according to Israeli police.
“A bomb explosion has been confirmed,” a police spokesman said.
The explosion came as Gaza health officials said that 29 people were killed in the strip during the night and during the day on Sunday.
Additional sources • Le Figaro, adaptation: Serge Duchêne
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