Netanyahu tells Blinken he will not end war on Hamas in Gaza as part of hostage deal

Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have told Antony Blinken he would not accept an end to the war in Gaza as part of a potential ceasefire and hostage deal during a visit by the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken – who pushed for more aid to Gaza and an immediate truce.

Mr Blinken met Mr Netanyahu in Jerusalem, the final stop on the secretary of state’s latest diplomatic tour of the Middle East: his seventh visit to a region which has been ravaged by conflict for seven months. Israel imposed a crippling siege and launched its most ferocious bombardment yet on Gaza in retaliation  for the 7 October Hamas attack on southern Israel, where around 1,200 people were killed and anpther 250 were taken hostage.

Palestinian health officials say that Israel’s bombardment has killed more than 34,000 people. The UN says that nearly half the population is suffering catastrophic hunger.

During a two and half hour meeting in Jerusalem, Mr Blinken “reiterated the importance of accelerating and sustaining” the delivery into Gaza, and ongoing efforts to reach an “immediate” ceasefire and hostage exchange deal.

He is expected to visit Ashdod port in the south, which has recently started receiving aid for Gaza after massive international pressure.

A wounded Palestinian boy reacts at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Rafah (Reuters)

Israeli officials told Israeli and international media that Mr Netanyahu made it clear in the meeting, he would not accept any hostage deal that was dependent on an end to the war.

“He told Blinken that we are interested in reaching a deal, and determined to topple Hamas,” one official told The Times of Israel.

Israel conveyed its latest offer to Hamas through Egyptian mediators late last week, and is expecting a response on Wednesday evening,  the official added. Mr Blinken has blamed Hamas for “standing in the way” of the agreement and urged Hamas to accept what he called an “extraordinarily generous” truce deal.  Under the current draft, it would see 33 hostages released in exchange for a larger number of Palestinian prisoners and a halt to the fighting. The expectation is it could see further steps towards a later comprehensive deal.

“The time is now, ” Mr Blinken said on Wednesday. He told Israeli President Isaac Herzog at a meeting in Tel Aviv: “We are determined to get a ceasefire that brings the hostages home and to get it now, and the only reason that that wouldn’t be achieved is because of Hamas.

A woman holds a banner and shouts slogans with families and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza during a protest calling for their return (AP)

“There is a proposal on the table, and, as we’ve said, no delays, no excuses,” he said. The deal would also allow much-needed food, medicine and water to get into Gaza, he added.

After meeting Mr Herzog and also families of Americans held by Hamas at his hotel, Mr Blinken briefly greeted several dozen demonstrators calling for an immediate hostage release deal who had gathered outside.

A senior official for Hamas said the group was still studying the proposed deal but accused Blinken of failing to respect both sides and described Israel as the real obstacle.

“Blinken’s comments contradict reality,” Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.

Mr Blinken’s trip comes ahead of Israel’s widely expected offensive into the southern border of Rafah, which is the last refugee in the tiny strip housing over 1.5 million displaced people,  many of whom are living in tents. Mr Blinken emphasised the US position on an assault on Rafah during his visit to Israel.  President Joe Biden has made it clear that such a bombardment would be a “red line” in interviews, warning that US policy could shift if Israel fails to take steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.

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