US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Pushes for Gaza Truce During High-Stakes Israel Visit

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, currently in Israel to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza, emphasized on Monday that ongoing negotiations might represent the “last” opportunity to secure an agreement to end the conflict.

“This is a decisive moment — probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire, and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security,” Blinken stated during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Blinken, who is on his ninth visit to the Middle East since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, reiterated that President Joe Biden had tasked him with bringing the negotiations to fruition. “It is time for it to get done. It’s also time to make sure that no one takes any steps that could derail this process,” he said.

The Secretary of State underscored the importance of avoiding any actions that could escalate the conflict or provoke further violence. “We’re working to make sure that there is no escalation, that there are no provocations, that there are 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,” Blinken added.

Later on Monday, Blinken is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In his meeting with Herzog, Blinken acknowledged the high-stakes nature of the current situation, describing it as a “fraught moment” in Israel. He also warned against any moves that could increase regional tensions, particularly in light of threats from Iran and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, to retaliate for the recent killings of two militant leaders.

Herzog, who plays a largely ceremonial role in Israel, echoed Blinken’s concerns and emphasized the urgency of securing the release of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7 attack. “There is no greater humanitarian objective, and there’s no greater humanitarian cause, than bringing back our hostages,” Herzog told Blinken.