US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Israel to push for a Gaza truce, said on Monday ongoing negotiations were \u201cmaybe the last\u201d chance to reach an agreement to end the war. \u201cThis is a decisive moment \u2014 probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security,\u201d Blinken said as he met Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The top US diplomat said President Joe Biden had sent him \u201cto get this agreement to the line and ultimately over the line\u201d. \u201cIt is time for it to get done. It\u2019s also time to make sure that no one takes any steps that could derail this process,\u201d Blinken said. \u201cWe\u2019re working to make sure that there is no escalation, that there are no provocations, that there are no actions that in any way could move us away from getting this deal over the line, or, for that matter, escalating the conflict to other places, and to greater intensity.\u201d Blinken, on his ninth visit to the Middle East since October last year, is scheduled to meet later on Monday with Benjamin Netanyahu. The visiting secretary of state said it was a \u201cfraught moment\u201d in Israel and warned against any moves that could heighten regional tensions, following threats from Iran and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah to avenge the recent killings of two militant leaders. Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role, said Israelis wanted to see the return \u201cas soon as possible\u201d of hostages held in Gaza. \u201cThere is no greater humanitarian objective, and there\u2019s no greater humanitarian cause, than bringing back our hostages,\u201d Herzog told Blinken.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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