US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Sunday (18/8) evening to continue efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and a prisoner exchange with Hamas.
As reported by BetweenBlinken is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday (19/8), according to the Israeli daily. Yedioth Ahronoth.
Blinken will then head to Egypt on Tuesday (20/8) as part of his trip, the daily said.
Ceasefire talks in the Qatari capital Doha ended on Friday (16/8) with proposals to narrow the gap between Israel and Hamas in line with the principles set out by US President Joe Biden on May 31.
Biden said at the time that Israel had proposed a three-phase deal that would end the fighting in Gaza and secure the release of hostages held in the enclave.
The plan includes a ceasefire, an exchange of hostages for prisoners and the reconstruction of Gaza.
For months, the US, Qatar and Egypt have been trying to help Israel and Hamas reach a deal to ensure a hostage exchange, a ceasefire and the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
But the mediation efforts were halted due to Netanyahu’s refusal to fulfill Hamas’s demand to stop the war. (Z-6)
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