Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu, war cabinet meets with US Secretary of State Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, November 30 met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli war cabinet in Jerusalem. This would fourth time that Blinken has arrived in Jewish state since Israel declared a ground offensive against Hamas on Oct. 7.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Office announced that Netanyahu “is currently holding a private meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.” During meeting, Netanyahu stated that two counterparts will discuss many issues pertaining to ongoing war with Hamas and, “of course, I'd like to talk to you [Blinken] about next phase” of hostages release from Hamas captivity.

Blinken is accompanied with US Ambassor to Israel Jack Lew, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet and Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues David Satterfield.

Before meeting Netanyahu, he held a bilateral talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. meeting came shortly after a dely terror attack in Jerusalem. “This is anor example of situation we’re in, endless war that we are fighting against terror organizations, especially Hamas, in se very complicated and challenging times,” Herzog told Blinken, according to statement cited by Times of Israel. Israel is “working, praying for and demanding immediate release of all hostages, and I thank United States of America for immense work it is devoting to release of hostages,” he ded.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently holding a private meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/9oKQ1LLTNV

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM)

After meeting, Blinken to visit Ramallah; will attend UN’s COP28 summit in Dubai

After he finishes meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken is scheduled to visit Ramallah and n will attend UN’s COP28 climate summit in Dubai. US Secretary of State arrived in Tel Aviv after attending a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting in Brussels and Skopje, North Macedonia, where NATO foreign ministers and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) discussed Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

During his speech, Blinken stated, “We’d like to see pause extended because what it has enabled first and foremost is hostages being released, coming home, being reunited with ir families.” He continued that deal has “enabled us to surge humanitarian assistance into people of Gaza, who so desperately need it.” So, said Blinken, “its continuation, by definition, means that more hostages would be coming home, more assistance would be getting in.”

Netanyahu meanwhile clarified that IDF will resume its military operation against Hamas ‘in full force’ after hostages are released. “re is no way we are not going back to fight to end,” Israeli prime minister said. “This is my policy, entire Cabinet stands behind it, entire government stands behind it, soldiers stand behind it, people stand behind it—this is exactly what we will do.”