Last Chance for Gaza Peace: Blinken's Urgent Plea

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urges Israel and Hamas towards a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, calling it the best and possibly last opportunity. Negotiations in Qatar continue amid Hamas' resumption of suicide bombings and ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Palestinian optimism remains low.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Monday that the latest push for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal was probably the best and possibly last opportunity, urging Israel and Hamas towards an elusive agreement. However, with Palestinian Islamist group Hamas announcing a resumption of suicide bombings inside Israel after many years and with Israeli airstrikes still pounding Gaza, there was little sign of conciliation.

Hamas and another militant group, Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for a blast near a synagogue in Tel Aviv on Sunday, which killed the bomber and wounded one other person. Hamas indicated suicide bombings "will return to the forefront" while the Gaza conflict continues. Talks in Qatar last week paused without a breakthrough, but negotiations are set to resume this week based on a U.S. "bridging proposal".

Blinken met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday morning. "This is a decisive moment, probably the best, maybe the last opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire, and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security," Blinken declared before meeting Herzog.

(With inputs from agencies.)