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Blinken says surprise attacks threaten Gaza ceasefire talks

2024-09-18 17:15:00, Kosova & Bota CNA
Blinken says surprise attacks threaten Gaza ceasefire talks
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, during his visit to Egypt, September 18, 2024. Source: AP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the surprising escalation threatens the failure of efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas - the US and EU-designated terrorist group - in the Gaza Strip.

Blinken said the United States is assessing the explosions of pagers - wireless telecommunications equipment - in Lebanon on Tuesday, which were blamed on Israel.

He made these comments in Egypt, where he is for talks about ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, as well as US-Egypt relations.

The United States and international partners, including Egypt, are working to broker a ceasefire agreement, nearly a year after war broke out between Israel and Hamas.

These countries are also making efforts to reduce tensions, as Israeli leaders have threatened to escalate military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"Invariably, when the US and other international mediators believe they are making progress on reaching a cease-fire agreement for Israel and Hamas' war in Gaza, we see an event that makes progress even more difficult, that could derail it. ”, said Blinken, when asked about yesterday's explosions in Lebanon.

Simultaneous explosions of pagers - used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon - killed 12 people, including a child, on Tuesday.

Israel has not publicly said whether it is responsible or not.

Blinken also spoke about the killing of six Israeli hostages by Hamas earlier this month in Gaza.

By the time news of the killing of the six hostages broke, negotiators had made progress on the timing and details of an exchange deal that would see the hostages released in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, Blinken said.

Blinken reiterated on Wednesday the US administration's comments that it is still gathering information about the circumstances of the pager attacks, without giving further details.

He held meetings with the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattaf el-Sissi and with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty./ REL





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