US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv, on May 1, 2024. AFP
Blinken has described a proposal for a 40-day ceasefire currently on the table as “extraordinarily generous” a characterisation that Hamas, which wants a permanent ceasefire, has rejected.
"Even in these very difficult times we are determined to get a ceasefire that brings the hostages home -- and to get it now. And the only reason that that wouldn't be achieved is because of Hamas," Blinken claimed as he met Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Hamas is set to respond to an offer in which Israel would temporarily halt its war on Gaza and free Palestinian prisoners in return for Israeli captives held in Gaza.
During his visit, Blinken is also pressing efforts to increase aid into the Gaza Strip, where the United Nations has warned of impending famine due to severe shortages of food.
"We also have to be focused on people who are suffering in this crossfire," Blinken said to Herzog.
However, Israeli terrorist settlers, again, attacked humanitarian aids trucks heading to Gaza, during the night.
Blinken will later Wednesday meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and make stops including Ashdod, a port near Gaza that was recently reopened by Israel for aid.
That comes less than a day after Netanyahu said he was determined to go into Rafah to launch an operation, whether or not there’s any sort of ceasefire agreement.
On Tuesday, Blinken saw off a Jordanian aid convoy that was heading to the newly reopened Erez crossing between Israel and Gaza.
Israel has killed at least 34,568 Palestinians in Gaza since the begining of the war October 7.
Another 77,765 have been wounded in Israeli attacks, the Health Ministry said.
The ministry added that 33 people were killed and 57 injured in the latest 24-hour period.
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