During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of leveraging the recent death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to bring all hostages home and end the conflict in Gaza. The State Department highlighted Blinken's call for securing the release of hostages and achieving lasting security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The US also urged Israel to enhance the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. This request follows a previous demand for Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within 30 days to avoid potential violations of US laws governing foreign military assistance.
Netanyahu's office described the meeting as 'friendly and productive,' with discussions focusing on the Iranian threat. Blinken expressed concern over a recent drone attack on Netanyahu's residence and reiterated US support for Israel's efforts to secure the release of hostages.
Although no specific agreements were reached regarding the Gaza situation, Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment to Israel's security and emphasized the need to counter regional aggression from Iran and its proxies.
