Blinken Pushes Postwar Gaza Plan Amid Rising Tensions

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israeli officials to accept a postwar plan for Gaza, pushing for more international pressure on Hamas to agree to a cease-fire. Blinken's mission follows his talks with Egyptian President el-Sissi and faces skepticism from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on top Israeli officials to accept and implement a postwar plan for Gaza, emphasizing the need for increased international pressure on Hamas to agree to a cease-fire proposal newly endorsed by the UN Security Council.

During his latest mission to the Middle East, his eighth since the Israel-Hamas war began in October, Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The meetings came after his talks in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi to push the cease-fire proposal, which has encountered new uncertainties following Israel's recent hostage rescue operation and internal turmoil within Netanyahu's government.

Blinken assured Netanyahu that the United States and other world leaders back a comprehensive proposal that would lead to an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a significant increase in humanitarian assistance, as outlined by President Biden.