US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv that he was in the region “to bring to fruition” efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and bring hostages home, The Times of Israel reported.
He also said the ceasefire proposal takes into account Israel’s security interests, according to The Times of Israel.
Blinken said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “confirmed to me that Israel accepts the bridge proposal” offered by the United States last week in Doha, in an attempt to find a formula that both Israel and Hamas can accept, the outlet reported.
He placed the responsibility on the Gaza-based Palestinian group: “Now it is up to Hamas to do the same.”
The US secretary said the parties need to “come together to complete the process of reaching clear understandings on how they will implement the commitments they made under this agreement.” But he warned that “the next important step is for Hamas to say yes,” the Israeli media reported on its website. The secretary stressed that the United States is deeply committed “to getting it done now.”
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– 2024-08-25 01:11:12
