Israeli President Herzog Holds Meeting with US Secretary Blinken

Tel Aviv, August 19:
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israel President Issac Herzog in a renewed effort to end the Israeli-Hamas conflict. The Times of Israel said that the Israeli president said, "people have to understand it starts with a refusal of Hamas to move forward." This came at the beginning of the president's discussion with Blinken, in which he blamed Hamas for the hostage crisis.

Herzog expressed gratitude to US President Joe Biden for "showing and projecting power" in the region in response to Iran's threats, as reported by the Israeli publication. He hoped "that we can move forward in the negotiations" and thanked the United States, Egypt, and Qatar for mediating a ceasefire proposal.

Herzog remarked, as reported by the Times of Israel, that returning the captives home—as they should have done long ago—is the most important humanitarian goal and cause.

There will be "a decisive moment" in the fight, according to Blinken "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," said Blinken.

The creation of checkpoints to examine Palestinians attempting to return to their homes in northern Gaza and Israel's determination to maintain a military presence along the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza have been major obstacles to the proposed ceasefire, according to dipolmats speaking on anonymity and cited by the Washington Post. The list of Palestinian captives that Israel has agreed to free is another contentious topic, according to the US publication.

The spokesperson for the State Department, Vedant Patel, stated that during Blinken's visit to Israel, the secretary will make strong efforts to finalize the deal. This deal "would achieve a cease-fire in Gaza, secure the release of all hostages, ensure humanitarian assistance is distributed throughout Gaza, and create the conditions for broader regional stability."

Since the conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas, Blinken has made nine trips to Tel Aviv. The White House has hinted that a deal is nearly ready to be closed, and the US Secretary of State is scheduled to meet with other Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The mediating nations were encouraged when Israeli negotiators, at the mid-level, met in Cairo on Sunday following two days of consultations in Qatar. Members of the working groups have remained in Doha. On the other hand, an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza killed seven members of the same family on Sunday—the same day Blinken arrived in Israel.