[IsraelTimes] During a meeting at the State Department with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer later today, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will raise efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza in addition to pressing Israel to advance a viable plan for the post-war management of Gaza, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says during a press briefing.
The US has long expressed frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the latter issue, as for months, the premier refused to discuss the matter at all.
Last month, he said he directed the IDF to come up with a plan for boxing out Hamas from the distribution of humanitarian aid, but Washington and Israel’s Arab allies have warned that this goal is impossible so long as Israel continues to refuse the involvement of a reformed Palestinian Authority, given that they do not see any other viable option in Gaza capable of filling any vacuum left by Hamas. |