U.S. Secretary of State travels for Gaza cease-fire talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday for roughly three hours discussed a proposed agreement to include the release of Israeli hostages, Netanyahu’s office said. Their private meeting was positive and had a good atmosphere, according to Netanyahu’s office. Other officials would join discussions between the two leaders later on Monday, Netanyahu’s office said in the morning. Blinken arrived in Israel on Sunday for his ninth trip to the country since the Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel in early October. He met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday before the appointment with Netanyahu.

What did Netanyahu say in this meeting about the cease-fire agreement? Netanyahu insisted to Blinken that Israel strongly supports a proposed cease-fire agreement, which he said would achieve his country’s interests. Israel and the United States are both pushing for a cease-fire proposal still following the outline of a U.S. President Joe Biden speech back in May. Netanyahu’s office insisted last week that it was not changing aspects of that agreement. The agreement would require Hamas to release all hostages in Gaza and for Israel to cease military operations in the region.

Israeli negotiators who met with mediators in Doha, Qatar last week expressed to Netanyahu their cautious optimism about the agreement, his office said on Sunday. The proposal currently awaits Hamas’ approval. But the terrorist organization indicated some opposition to the deal last week, the Associated Press reported. Blinken told Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier in the day on Monday that the United States remained committed a cease-fire in the region.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about how the U.S. and European countries have strengthened their calls for a cease-fire in Gaza.