Biden interested in Gaza ceasefire, peace deal in Israel – Blinken

In an effort to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Tuesday.

The discussion, which was postponed for months, was a component of the US, Qatar, and Egypt’s efforts towards Gaza.

The goal of Antony Blinken’s journey to the Middle East was to win over supporters of the most recent three-phase ceasefire proposal.

The multi-phase strategy that U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled in New York on Monday was clarified by the United Nations Security Council.

According to the U.S. only the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement had not agreed to the plan.

However, the government of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has not given its clear and public approval to the plan either.

Antony Blinken arrived in Egypt on Monday for the first leg of the tour and later held a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

According to a statement by the U.S. State Department, Blinken told Netanyahu that “the United States and other world leaders will stand behind the comprehensive proposal outlined by President Biden”.

Blinken in the statement also “updated the prime minister on ongoing diplomatic efforts to plan for the post-conflict period”.

He also met opposition leader Yair Lapid on Tuesday and is due to hold talks with Israeli lawmaker Benny Gantz.

Benny Gantz had just quit the Israeli emergency government formed following the Oct. 7 attacks.

Antony Blinken’s Middle East tour is expected to last until Wednesday and also includes a stop in Qatar.