TEL AVIV – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to an American “bridging proposal” for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
It is now up to Hamas to agree, Blinken added.
The pair met in Tel Aviv for talks that Netanyahu has described as “positive”, with his office adding that he had reiterated his commitment to an American proposal on the release of the hostages still held by Hamas, which took into account Israel’s security needs.
Blinken had earlier warned this was “maybe the last opportunity” to secure a ceasefire agreement, as the US hopes to push a deal over the finish line.
The Americans hope that could happen perhaps as soon as this time next week, but that level of optimism is not shared by the Israeli leadership or Hamas.
Each accuses the other of obstinate cynicism, and blocking a deal.
Speaking in Tel Aviv after the talks, Blinken described “the fierce urgency” of progressing towards a truce and hostage release deal.
“We’re never giving up”, he added, saying more delays could mean more hostages could die and further obstacles could hamper any agreement.
The US secretary of state will now travel on to Egypt and then Qatar, to try and drive forward progress on a deal.
Netanyahu reportedly told Mr Blinken that he planned to send a negotiating team to Cairo later this week for a new round of talks with Egyptian, Qatari and US mediators.
Meanwhile, reports from Gaza speak of a worsening humanitarian situation amid continuing Israeli military activity.
Israel said its aircraft and troops had killed “eliminated dozens of terrorists” over the past day and destroyed Hamas compounds and a tunnel network where rockets and missiles were found.
Palestinian media reported that six people had been killed in an Israeli air strike near an internet access point near the southern city of Khan Younis on Monday, and that another four were killed in a strike on a car in Gaza City, in the north.
The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
More than 40,130 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
A deal agreed in November saw Hamas release 105 of the hostages during a week-long ceasefire in return for some 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Israel says 111 hostages are still being held, 39 of whom are presumed dead.
Blinken was in Israel on Monday for a series of talks with key Israeli leaders. (BBC)
