U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Tel Aviv with the aim of persuading Israel to extend the ongoing humanitarian truce in Gaza, which is scheduled to expire on Thursday. The original four-day truce, initially implemented on November 24 and extended for an additional two days on Tuesday, is set to conclude at 7 a.m. local time on Thursday.
Blinken's visit occurs amid Israel's firm stance against extending the truce, citing reports of the deaths of a 10-month-old child, Kfir Bibas, and his four-year-old brother and mother, who were allegedly kidnapped on October 7. The Israeli military had been assessing these reports.
Before arriving in Israel, Blinken expressed his focus on extending the pause in fighting in Gaza to facilitate the release of hostages and provide humanitarian assistance. He emphasized the positive outcomes of the truce, such as the reunification of hostages with their families and the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
While acknowledging Israel's objective to prevent terrorist attacks, Blinken stated that an extension of the truce could contribute to achieving this goal while minimizing further suffering and casualties among Palestinian civilians. He planned to discuss these matters in meetings with Israeli officials.
Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, issued a statement urging fighters to remain in a high-combat readiness position until an official statement confirms the extension of the truce. Hamas blamed Israel for an impasse in the ceasefire extension talks, alleging that Israel rejected an offer to extend the truce in exchange for the release of seven detained women and children and the bodies of three deceased women or children.
Qatar, a key mediator in the ceasefire talks, expressed optimism about an extension being announced. However, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff Herzi Halevi mentioned that the military is prepared for the next stage of the conflict in Gaza once the truce concludes.
During the sixth day of the truce on Wednesday, 16 hostages were released from Gaza, including 10 Israelis, four Thai nationals, and two Israeli-Russians. Additionally, 30 Palestinians were freed from Israeli jails. Since the commencement of the pause, 210 Palestinians, 68 Israelis, and 20 foreign nationals have reportedly been released. Pressure from various countries, including Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., is being exerted on Israel for a truce extension, and the outcome remains uncertain.
(With Agency Inputs)
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