Blinken to families of abductees: “We will not rest until we return everyone”

The families of abductees and other activists arrived this morning (Wednesday) at the Kempinski Hotel in Tel Aviv where US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is visiting Israel, is staying. Blinken came out to the protesters, who asked to support him and the American administration for the efforts to reach a deal with Hamas. “Please be strong,” the US Secretary of State told them.

“I had the opportunity to meet with some of the families of the abductees as I do every visit to Israel,” Blinken told the protesters outside the hotel. “I want to share with you what I shared with them. Bringing the abductees home is at the core of what we are trying to do. We will not rest until everyone, men, soldiers, civilians, women, returns home.”

“We will continue until we complete the task.” Blinken talks to protesters in Tel Aviv, this morning Photo: reuters

Blinken added that “there is a very strong proposal on the table right now, Hamas must say yes. We will not stop. Please be strong, we will continue until we complete the mission.”

Among the members of the families of the abductees was Shahar Mor Zahiro, the nephew of the abductee Avraham Monder. “He was full of empathy, spoke to our hearts and eyes,” said Moore Zahiro after the meeting with Blinken, who also shook his hand. “We have despaired of the Israeli politicians. We will not rest until all the abductees are here.”

Mor Zahiro later appeared for questioning at the Tel Aviv police, to which he was summoned following the demonstration in the city yesterday. “This is a political investigation,” he said, “we will not be silenced, we will continue to say what is necessary – the bringing of the kidnapped. If the government cannot do it, we will demand that someone else do it.”

Blinken talks to protesters in Tel Aviv Photo: reuters

Earlier in Lincoln he met with the country’s president Yitzhak Herzog. At their meeting, Herzog thanked Blinken “for the strong support and moral clarity in your words regarding the circumstances of this terrible event, the war that was imposed on us, the horrors we experienced, as well as regarding the situation of the abductees.” The president added that “we wish for their immediate return, and it should be the priority of the international community.”

Blinken told Herzog that “we are determined to achieve a ceasefire that will bring the abductees home, and to achieve it now”. According to him, “the only reason a deal will not be reached is because of Hamas. There is an offer on the table, and as we said, no delays, no excuses. Now is the time.”

“We are determined to achieve a ceasefire that will bring back the abductees.” In Lincoln at a meeting with Herzog Photo: Ma’ayan Tuaf, LM

Meanwhile, in Israel they are waiting for Hamas’ answer to the “generous” offer that was given, and it is possible that it will be given later this evening. If it comes and is also serious, the Israeli delegation, which has so far avoided traveling, will go to Cairo to discuss the many details.

The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar revealed the text of the Egyptian proposal that was forwarded to the Hamas leadership on Friday. According to the report, the deal includes the release of women, adults and all female soldiers. This is in addition to the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip throughout all the stages of the deal.

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