U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, who is visiting the Middle East, is expected to visit Israel on the 22nd and discuss with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about negotiations for a cessation of fighting and ground operations toward Rafah. Regarding the negotiations, the Israeli negotiating team is scheduled to once again head to Qatar, the mediating country, and the focus is on whether the negotiations will make any progress.
Secretary of State Blinken, who is visiting the Middle East, is scheduled to visit Israel on the 22nd and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his wartime cabinet.
The talks are also expected to discuss plans to replace a large-scale ground operation in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, of which the United States has expressed concern.
On the 22nd, Australia and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement regarding ground operations in Rafah, where nearly 1.5 million people, including evacuees, live. It is getting stronger day by day.
Regarding negotiations between Israel and the Islamic organization Hamas over the cessation of fighting and the release of hostages, Israel has announced that it will send a negotiating team to Qatar again on the 22nd.
Secretary of State Blinken, who supports the negotiations, said on the 21st, ``Negotiations continue, and the gaps are closing. There are still challenges to reach an agreement, but I believe it is possible.'' is shown again.
The focus is on whether negotiations will make progress as there is still a wide gap between the positions of both sides regarding the ceasefire.