ANKARA, May 1 (Bernama-Anadolu) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said that the US administration is "determined" to achieve a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas group, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
Blinken made the statement during his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog as he starts talks with Israeli leaders.
"Even in these very difficult times we are determined to get a ceasefire that brings the hostages home — and to get it now," Blinken said, according to Israeli media.
The top US diplomat arrived Tuesday in Israel on his third stop, after Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as part of his regional tour for talks to bring a cease-fire in Gaza.
Hamas has demanded an end to Israel’s ongoing offensive on Gaza in return for any hostage deal with Tel Aviv.
A previous deal in last November saw the release of 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners in exchange for 240 Palestinians, including 71 women and 169 children.
Israel has waged an unrelenting offensive on the Palestinian enclave since a cross-border attack by Hamas last Oct. 7 which killed some 1,200 people.
More than 34,500 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and thousands injured amid mass destruction and severe shortages of necessities.
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