U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The meeting, part of efforts by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt to address the Gaza conflict, had been delayed for months.
Blinken’s Middle East trip aimed to garner support for a three-phase ceasefire proposal. The UN Security Council clarified the multi-stage plan presented by U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday in New York. However, while the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement has not agreed to the plan, the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not given its clear and public approval either.
Blinken arrived in Egypt on Monday for the first leg of his tour and later met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem. According to a U.S. State Department statement, Blinken told Netanyahu that “the United States and other world leaders will stand behind the comprehensive proposal outlined by President Biden.” Blinken also updated the prime minister on ongoing diplomatic efforts for the post-conflict period.
During his visit, Blinken also met with opposition leader Yair Lapid and is due to hold talks with Israeli lawmaker Benny Gantz, who recently quit the Israeli emergency government formed after the October 7 attacks. Blinken’s Middle East tour is expected to last until Wednesday and will also include a stop in Qatar.
