US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed this Tuesday at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, marking his seventh visit since the Hamas attack on October 7.
This Wednesday, he is scheduled to meet in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss, among other issues, ongoing truce efforts.
The American politician will once again discuss progress towards a ceasefire agreement in Gaza with Netanyahu, at a crucial moment in the negotiations.
In addition, he will visit the port of Ashdod, from where part of the humanitarian aid is sent to the Palestinian enclave, as announced by the Prime Minister’s Office, cited by the Efe news agency.
Before his meeting with the prime minister, Antony Blinken will be received by Israeli president Isaac Herzog. His visit occurs at a key moment in the truce talks in the strip, mediated by Qatar, the United States and Egypt.
The Hamas terrorist group is expected to respond this Wednesday to the latest truce offer, which would include the exchange of 33 live hostages for an undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners, and the return of displaced Gazans to the north.
According to reports from the Israeli newspaper Haaretzciting anonymous Hamas sources, the organization demands guarantees of a truce of several months, during which Israel would commit not to resume attacks, as a condition for reaching an agreement.
Blinken met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman on Tuesday and discussed efforts to reach a truce in Gaza and the escalation of tension in the occupied West Bank.
These talks are part of regional efforts to secure a comprehensive truce in Gaza, which Blinken discussed on Monday in Riyadh with Arab and Islamic leaders, as well as PLO Secretary-General Hussein Al Sheikh.
The US secretary of state also said Tuesday in Amman that humanitarian aid to Gaza must be increased, a point he will raise with the Israeli prime minister.
He reported, from a warehouse of the Hashemite Charity Organization of Jordan, that a first convoy of Jordanian humanitarian assistance would leave for the strip through the Erez border crossing, reopened by Israel.
“There is a direct route from Jordan to northern Gaza via Erez. The first shipment leaves today. “This is an important advance, but we still need to do more,” he said before the trucks prepared to leave, according to the Efe news agency.
“They not only need food, but also medicine. A sufficient number of drivers must be ensured to transport aid to Gaza and that there are effective distribution mechanisms. There should also be a clear listing so we know what material is allowed inside,” he added.
The official stressed that there are “things pending” to ensure that people get what they need.
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