Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Tel Aviv on Monday morning as President Joe Biden’s administration presses for a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Blinken touched down in Israel on Sunday night, beginning his ninth visit to the Middle East since Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel sparked the current conflict.
“The focus of my visit is intensely on getting the hostages back, getting the cease-fire done,” Blinken said. “It is time for everyone to get to ‘yes’ and to not look for any excuses to say ‘no.'”
Blinken said that he was working to make sure there was “no escalation…no provocations…no actions that in any way could move us away from getting this deal over the line, or, for that matter, escalating the conflict to other places and to greater intensity.”
Reaffirming support for Israel, Blinken said, “As you heard [Herzog] say, the United States has taken decisive action to deploy forces here to deter any attacks, and if necessary, to defend against any attacks.”
Herzog said that in the last 24 hours, they have witnessed “ongoing terror attacks by Palestinian terrorists.”
“This is the way we are living these days. We are surrounded by terror from four corners of the Earth, and we are fighting back as a resilient and strong nation,” Herzog said.
Herzog said that hostage negotiations have been held up by Hamas’ “adamant refusal to move forward,” but that Israel is “very hopeful” to continue working on a deal. The president then thanked the U.S., Egypt and Qatar for their role as mediators.
-ABC News’ Lauren Minore
In the midst of escalating violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been closely monitoring the situation and working towards a cease-fire agreement. The conflict, which began on May 10th, has resulted in hundreds of deaths and widespread destruction in both Israel and Gaza.
Blinken has been in constant communication with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, as well as with other international partners, in an effort to de-escalate the violence and bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict. He has emphasized the need for both sides to exercise restraint and work towards a cease-fire that will end the bloodshed and protect civilians on both sides.
The U.S. government has also been working behind the scenes to push for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. President Joe Biden has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu multiple times, urging him to take steps to reduce tensions and avoid further civilian casualties. At the same time, U.S. officials have been engaging with regional partners, such as Egypt and Qatar, to help facilitate negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Despite these efforts, the violence in Gaza has continued unabated, with both sides exchanging rocket fire and airstrikes on a daily basis. The situation on the ground remains volatile, with no clear end in sight to the hostilities.
In response to the escalating violence, the United Nations Security Council has held emergency meetings to discuss the situation in Gaza and to call for an immediate cease-fire. The international community has also expressed growing concern over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, where hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties and basic services are on the brink of collapse.
As the conflict enters its second week, Secretary Blinken continues to closely monitor the situation and work towards a peaceful resolution. The U.S. government remains committed to supporting efforts to de-escalate the violence and bring about a lasting cease-fire that will protect civilians and pave the way for a return to negotiations towards a two-state solution.
In the meantime, the world watches with bated breath as the violence in Gaza shows no signs of abating, and hopes for a swift end to the bloodshed and a return to peace in the region.
