During his visit to Saudi Arabia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed hope that Hamas would accept Israel’s ‘extraordinarily generous’ offer to halt the Gaza offensive in exchange for the release of hostages. Blinken stated that Hamas is holding up the ceasefire and urged them to make a quick decision in the interest of the people of Gaza.
Blinken highlighted the suffering in Gaza and emphasized that a ceasefire and hostage release would create an opportunity for a more just and lasting solution. He also addressed the efforts by Egypt and Qatar to broker a deal.
Separately, Blinken discussed the ongoing work between the United States and Saudi Arabia on Israeli-Saudi normalization. He noted that he had not yet reviewed Israel’s plan for a Rafah offensive that would safeguard civilians.
