U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has again proposed a ceasefire, continuing his calls for peace and a ceasefire agreement. During a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday, Blinken stated that this is perhaps the best and last opportunity to bring hostages home, implement a ceasefire, and pursue a path to peace and security.
However, as the topic of a ceasefire was discussed, the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah launched an attack in northern Israel, prompting a retaliatory strike by Israel.
This marks the ninth time in ten months of ongoing conflict that Blinken has traveled to the Middle East. Each time, he has advocated for peace and proposed ceasefire agreements. On this occasion, Blinken emphasized that this period represents the "greatest" opportunity for a ceasefire. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that the ceasefire process is not derailed. Isaac Herzog agreed with this perspective.
However, Benjamin Netanyahu's administration has expressed objections to the ceasefire proposal. Hamas has issued a statement expressing "deep dissatisfaction," accusing Netanyahu of thwarting all mediation efforts. Israel, in turn, has stated that the proposal includes terms that are non-negotiable.
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