Israel-Hamas War: Blinken to visit Israel again amid hopes of further extension in Gaza ceasefire – israel hamas war blinken to visit israel again amid hopes of further extension in Gaza ceasefire
File Photo: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit West Asia again this week, raising hopes of a further extension after the Gaza ceasefire agreement was extended by two days.
This will be Blinken’s third visit to the region since the war between Israel and Hamas began last month. Blinken will travel to Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday after attending Ukraine-focused meetings in Brussels, Brazil, and Skopje, North Macedonia. Israel and Hamas agreed on Monday to extend their ceasefire agreement by two more days, raising hopes for a continued exchange of Palestinian prisoners held by militants and held in Israeli jails.
Under the ceasefire agreement, 50 Israeli hostages and 19 hostages from other countries have been released. Apart from this, 117 Palestinians have been released from Israeli jails.
Israel has said that the ceasefire period can be extended by one day for every additional 10 hostages released. Apart from the US and Egypt, Qatar, a key mediator in the conflict, announced an agreement on an extension for two more days “under the same conditions”.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby at the White House, the official residence and office of the US President, said on Monday that the US hopes to extend the ceasefire period, but it is dependent on Hamas releasing the hostages. .
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement that Blinken would discuss Israel’s “right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law” in Israel and the West Bank. “They will discuss continued efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages, protect civilian lives during Israel’s operations in Gaza, and accelerate humanitarian aid deliveries to civilians in Gaza.”
He said Blinken would discuss principles for a post-conflict Gaza, as well as the need to establish an independent Palestinian state and prevent conflict from escalating.
Blinken is likely to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank. Blinken and other US officials believe the Palestinian Authority should play a key role in governing Gaza after the conflict. Blinken will travel to the United Arab Emirates for discussions with regional leaders from Israel and the West Bank.
Regional leaders will gather in Dubai to attend the COP28 climate summit.
First Published – November 28, 2023 | 9:58 AM IST
(Business Standard staff has changed only the headline and photo of this report; the rest of the news has been published without any changes from a shared news source.)
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