Politics Blinken: Israel accepts ceasefire proposal

According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israel has accepted the latest US-backed proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. Now it is up to Hamas to agree to the proposal, Blinken said during his trip to Israel. He had previously met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for around three hours. Afterwards, Blinken spoke of a productive conversation.

Blinken said that he had traveled to the Middle East to "get the efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages across the finish line". Achieving this is a matter of great urgency.

At a meeting with Israeli President Izchak Herzog in Tel Aviv this morning, Blinken said: "This is a crucial moment, probably the best, perhaps the last opportunity to bring the hostages home, to achieve a ceasefire and to put everyone on a better path to lasting peace and security."

Blinken met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem in the afternoon. According to Israeli media reports, the meeting lasted three hours. It is Blinken's ninth visit to Israel since the start of the Gaza war more than ten months ago. According to the US State Department, he will remain in the region until Tuesday and will travel on from Israel to Egypt.