Blinken (left) with Netanyahu in their meeting on Wednesday (Anadolu Agency)
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken considered on Wednesday that there was still “place for an agreement” between Israel and Hamas, after strongly worded statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Blinken said, "There are things that are clearly unacceptable in Hamas' response. We believe that this makes room for reaching an agreement, and we are working on that tirelessly until it is reached."
At the same time, Blinken said Wednesday that he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government against actions that inflame tensions.
“In my conversations today with the prime minister and senior officials, I also raised our deep concerns about actions and statements, including from government officials, that are fueling tensions that undermine international support and impose greater restrictions on Israel’s security,” Blinken told reporters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that complete victory in Gaza was within reach, and stressed that his government had not committed to any promises regarding the deal proposed by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) for a ceasefire, pointing out that negotiations were still continuing.
During a press conference held on Wednesday, Netanyahu renewed his pledge to continue the war until Hamas is eliminated, indicating that achieving Israeli goals in this war is a matter of months, and that there is no going back from victory in it.
The US Secretary of State had called earlier Wednesday, after his meeting with Netanyahu and prominent Israeli officials in Tel Aviv, for “a commitment to do everything in our power to deliver the necessary aid to those who most need it, and the steps that are being taken and the additional steps that must be taken.” "It is the focus of my meetings here."
Blinken continued, "I visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt, and I believe that there is a very positive future in which Israel integrates into the region, addresses its security concerns, and achieves the ambitions of the Palestinian people."
Blinken expressed his hope of reaching an agreement to liberate prisoners held by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the rest of the Palestinian factions, but Israeli media said that Netanyahu informed him that Israel would not end the war on Gaza before eliminating Hamas.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies