US Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in discussions with the family members of American-Israeli hostages held in Gaza during his visit to Israel. The meeting, which took place on Tuesday, was aimed at addressing the urgent issue of negotiating a hostage deal for the safe return of the hostages.
The family members expressed their concerns to Blinken, urging him to exert more pressure on mediating countries, particularly emphasizing the role of Qatar in facilitating negotiations. They highlighted the recent death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar at the hands of the Israel Defense Forces as a potential turning point for restarting talks on the release of all hostages, both living and deceased.
Currently, there are over 100 hostages still being held in Gaza, with seven of them being American-Israeli citizens. The families stressed the importance of leveraging the recent events to secure the safe return of their loved ones and to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.
During a joint event with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Blinken acknowledged the significance of Sinwar's death as an opportunity to advance efforts towards resolving the hostage situation and promoting peace in the region. He also held meetings with key Israeli officials as part of his diplomatic visit.
Blinken is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, continuing his diplomatic engagements in the Middle East. His discussions with various stakeholders reflect the United States' commitment to supporting efforts to address complex security challenges and promote stability in the region.
