Blinken's Visit to Israel Sparks Fresh Hope for Gaza Ceasefire

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel to further Washington's efforts in achieving a Gaza ceasefire. This marks his tenth trip since the Israel-Hamas war began. Despite challenges, U.S. officials express renewed optimism while international allies urge restraint. Talks are set to continue in Cairo next week.

WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Sunday, intensifying Washington's diplomatic push for a Gaza ceasefire to end the 10-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas. This will be Blinken's tenth visit to the region since the war began last October. Recently, the U.S., along with mediators Qatar and Egypt, proposed bridging solutions believed to narrow the gaps between the conflicting parties.

U.S. officials express renewed optimism about finalizing the deal but caution that work remains. 'We've bridged remaining gaps in a way that we believe makes the deal ready to close,' a senior Biden administration official stated.

While in Israel, Blinken plans to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials amid concerns of regional escalation. Iran's threats of retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 loom over the talks. Washington has warned Iran against any retaliatory actions, labeling them potentially 'cataclysmic.'

In solidarity, foreign ministers from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy support the ceasefire talks, urging all parties to avoid escalation. Ceasefire implementation talks will continue early next week, with senior officials expected to reconvene in Cairo to finalize the deal. A statement from Netanyahu's office expressed cautious optimism about advancing the agreement.

However, Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha accused Israel of adding conditions to hinder talks. Meanwhile, the conflict persists; an Israeli strike killed at least 17 Palestinians in Gaza's Zawayda on Saturday, amid ongoing evacuation orders due to Hamas rocket fire.

The latest conflict began on Oct. 7, when Hamas fighters launched an attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages taken. Israel's subsequent military actions have decimated Gaza and killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities. Israel claims it has eliminated 17,000 Hamas fighters.

(With inputs from agencies.)