Blinken in Israel as part of efforts to renew Gaza ceasefire talks

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Israel today and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of efforts to renew negotiations on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

It has been announced that the topics of Blinken’s conversation with the Israeli state leadership will be the increase in the delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as the de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and the pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, Voice of America reports.

Since the start of the conflict in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, Blinken has visited the Middle East eleven times.

Hours before the start of the talks in Israel, Hezbollah announced that it had fired rockets at Israeli military bases near Tel Aviv and Haifa, but Israel claims to have intercepted all missiles fired from Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s health ministry announced that at least 13 people were killed and 57 wounded in today’s attack by Israeli warplanes on targets near the main state hospital in Beirut.

Months of peace talks mediated by the United States of America, Egypt and Qatar have not resulted in a ceasefire in the occupied Palestinian enclave, nor in the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Blinken is also expected to visit several countries during this trip to the Middle East, including Jordan.

An unnamed State Department official said talks with Arab leaders will include efforts to refine proposals for post-conflict governance of the Gaza Strip.

He indicated that the American side has formulated the elements of the post-conflict plan, which it is ready to discuss directly with the Israeli authorities.