US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed upon meeting in occupied al-Quds on Wednesday efforts to avoid further escalation in Gaza. In this context, the top US diplomat reaffirmed a “clear position of the United States” about “Israel’s” potential invasion of Rafah, the Department of State said.
“He also discussed the need to avoid further expansion of the conflict and updated the Prime Minister on ongoing efforts to ensure a lasting, sustainable peace in the region. The Secretary reiterated the United States’ clear position on Rafah,” the statement said.
The two sides focused on efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of a captives deal, according to the statement. Blinken did not fail, yet again, to accuse Hamas of standing in the way of a ceasefire.
“The Secretary discussed the improvement in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza since the call between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu on April 4 and reiterated the importance of accelerating and sustaining that improvement,” the State Department said.
Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on X, citing a US official, that Blinken reiterated to Netanyahu that Washington still opposes the Israeli invasion of Rafah without a credible plan for protecting civilians, as he stressed that there are better options to deal with Hamas.
Netanyahu said on Tuesday that “Israel” will carry out an operation in Rafah regardless of whether a deal on captives is reached with the Palestinian movement Hamas or not. He stated that the Israeli military would invade Rafah to eliminate the remaining Hamas battalions, claiming that there was “no other choice.”
Earlier, it was reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was holding Wednesday a private meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in occupied al-Quds, reported Netanyahu’s office.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are currently holding a private meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in al-Quds,” the office said in a statement, adding that an extended meeting of Israeli and US delegations will be held at a later time.
On another note, Blinken met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier in the day in Tel Aviv. The meeting comes amid an awaited response from the Hamas movement on the existing proposal for a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
Following the meeting, Blinken, while in his Tel Aviv residence, was surrounded on Tuesday by protesting families of Israeli captives held by the Resistance in Gaza, who were demanding that an exchange deal be reached.
The families vowed to intensify their protests in the coming phase, citing the occupation government’s inability to finalize an exchange agreement during this crucial juncture amid ongoing deliberations and negotiations facilitated by intermediaries.
New ceasefire proposal
Earlier on Tuesday, a well-informed Palestinian source told Al Mayadeen that the document presented to the Palestinian Resistance movement over a new ceasefire proposal in Gaza included positive points and a retreat in the Israeli position.
The source said that Hamas still needs to verify key issues, especially regarding the ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip. In addition, the are still contentious points concerning the prisoners’ file, which requires more time to reach an agreement, particularly regarding their numbers and categories.
Source: AlMayadeen
