US’ Blinken to visit Israel this week amid talks for Gaza cease-fire deal with Hamas

By Anadolu staff

JERUSALEM (AA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit Israel this week amid efforts for a cease-fire deal with Hamas, according to Israeli media on Tuesday.

It will be Blinken’s sixth visit to the Middle East region since the start of Israel’s deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

Blinken’s talks in Israel will focus on a possible deal for a cease-fire and hostage swap with Hamas, Israeli Channel 12 reported.

There has been no official confirmation of Blinken’s visit from US or Israeli authorities.

The White House said Monday that negotiators seeking to broker a deal for the release of additional hostages held by Hamas have developed a “framework” that could lead to an eventual deal.

According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the proposal includes the release of 35 Israeli hostages in return for a 6-week cease-fire in Gaza and the release of thousands of Palestinian detainees.

On Tuesday, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh confirmed that his group is studying a proposal for a cease-fire deal with Israel.

Hamas is believed to be holding nearly 136 Israelis following its cross-border attack on Oct. 7.

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, killing at least 26,751 Palestinians and injuring 65,636. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar