U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. During the meeting, both leaders highlighted the importance of taking advantage of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to reach an agreement that would allow for the release of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu emphasized that the elimination of Sinwar could have a positive effect on the return of the abducted.
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller noted that Blinken stressed the need to leverage the Israeli operation to secure the release of all hostages and bring an end to the conflict in Gaza. The goal of Blinken’s visit to Israel was to revive stalled negotiations for a ceasefire agreement and the release of captives in the region.
During the meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken also urged Israel to take additional steps to enhance the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, where the situation is deemed catastrophic. Furthermore, the offensive by Israeli forces in Lebanon against the Iranian-allied group Hezbollah, which has caused a high number of casualties, was also discussed.
Blinken has made several visits to the region since the escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine, marking this as his eleventh trip. Following the Hamas attack in October, the U.S. diplomatic leader has maintained a constant dialogue with the parties involved in the conflict. The death of Sinwar has been viewed by Washington as an opportunity to reach a solution that would end the war in the region.
