War between Israel and Hamas: The US “intends” to achieve a truce “now”

A new attempt to influence the negotiations. The United States is “committed” to Israel and Hamas reaching a ceasefire agreement “now” for the release of the hostages, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday while visiting Israel.

“Even in these difficult times, we are determined to ensure a ceasefire by bringing the hostages home, and to achieve this now. And the only reason this won’t happen is Hamas,” Antony Blinken said in Tel Aviv at a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Intermediary countries

The US diplomat is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday as Washington calls on Hamas to accept the Gaza truce “without further delay” and for Israel to abandon its offensive in Rafah.

Following a meeting Monday in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari representatives, a Hamas delegation returned to Doha to study a new truce proposal and is expected to respond “as quickly as possible,” according to a source close to the Palestinian Islamist movement.

The mediating countries (Egypt, Qatar, USA) are eagerly awaiting this response to the proposed 40-day truce to release hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.