US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit Israel as early as Sunday to advance negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. Washington is believed to have introduced new bridging proposals, with Israeli representatives engaging in discussions with mediators from Qatar and Egypt regarding the conditions for a potential ceasefire.
US President Joe Biden indicated optimism about the negotiations, stating, “we are closer than we’ve ever been.” Despite this, Hamas has expressed skepticism towards both Israel and the United States, accusing Israel of introducing new conditions to the talks.
The outcome of the US-Israel discussions is anticipated to influence Iran’s actions, as Iran has vowed retaliation against Israel for the killing of Hamas’ political leader during his recent visit to the country.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have continued their bombing campaign in Gaza, targeting central and southern regions. According to Al-Jazeera, medical staff have reported that the latest round of bombing resulted in 34 deaths.
