“This is a crucial moment – perhaps the best, perhaps the last chance to get the hostages home, to achieve a ceasefire and put everyone on a better path to lasting peace and security,” Blinken said during a meeting with Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog.
“It’s time to get it done,” said the US secretary of state, speaking about reaching an agreement. “There is also time to ensure that no one takes any steps that could disrupt this process.”
“We’re working to make sure that there’s no escalation, that there’s no provocation, that there’s no action that could in any way move us away from getting this agreement across the finish line or, speaking of, that there’s no escalation of the conflict to other places and to greater intensity.”
Since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel on October 7, this is Blinken’s ninth visit to the Middle East.
The secretary of state urged to refrain from any steps that could increase tensions in the region after threats by the Iranian-Lebanese Hezbollah group to retaliate against Israel for the killing of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
2024-08-20 15:01:32