Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in the Middle East with the goal of securing a ceasefire in Gaza.
Blinken landed in Tel Aviv on Sunday, August 18, as part of a diplomatic mission aimed at negotiating a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. The visit follows recent discussions in Doha, which have led to cautious optimism from both the US and Israel. However, Hamas has dismissed these hopes, calling any progress an “illusion” and demanding a full Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.
Earlier on Sunday, Al-Aqsa hospital reported that an airstrike in Deir al-Balah resulted in the deaths of a mother and her six children. The children’s grandfather, Muhammad Awad Khattab, told CNN, “They were taken by surprise when a missile hit them and completely destroyed their apartment.” He questioned, “What did they do to deserve this? What resistance did they have?”
A senior State Department official announced that Blinken is scheduled to meet on Monday, August 19, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and President Isaac Herzog.
