Blinken emphasizes ceasefire in meeting with Netanyahu

According to a written statement from the U.S. Department of State, Blinken met separately with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Israel during the second leg of his Middle East tour.

Reiterating the U.S.'s "unwavering" support for Israel during his meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken stated that they would continue to provide all kinds of support to Israel to ensure that a situation like October 7 does not happen again.

The two figures pointed to the importance of international public support for the 3-phase ceasefire agreement prepared by Israel and announced to the world by U.S. President Joe Biden, and pledged to work together on this matter.

Reiterating that the U.S. stands behind the ceasefire agreement proposal in question, Blinken stated that if a ceasefire becomes possible, calm would be restored in Israel, hostages would be released, and comprehensive aid would enter Gaza.

In his meeting with Gallant, Blinken emphasized that a potential ceasefire process in Gaza would be in the interest of all parties, stating that Israel has already accepted the agreement proposal and that the whole world expects Hamas to take the same step.

Blinken, who held talks in Egypt before Israel, had called on Qatar and Egypt to pressure Hamas to sign the ceasefire agreement.

BIDEN'S CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL

U.S. President Joe Biden stated in his speech at the White House on May 31 that Israel had presented a new 3-phase ceasefire proposal.

Although Biden said the proposal belonged to Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that they would continue the war until "defined goals" were achieved. In his speech to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Netanyahu claimed there were "gaps" between what Israel proposed and the offer presented by Biden.

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had threatened to topple the government if Netanyahu accepted the ceasefire proposal announced by U.S. President Biden.

Hamas, on the other hand, announced after Biden's statement that they viewed the proposals regarding a "permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, and prisoner exchange" positively.

News Source: AA