U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 19, 2024. /CFP
Israel has accepted a new proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During a press conference in Tel Aviv, Blinken said that Netanyahu "confirmed that Israel approves" the new U.S.-backed bridging proposal. The proposal was presented to Israel and Hamas by Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators over the weekend.
Blinken urged Hamas to approve the bridging proposal, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the suffering in Gaza, where more than 40,000 have been killed in Israeli assaults, and the need to release the hostages still held by Hamas.
Blinken visited Israel amid ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, before heading to Egypt and Qatar, key mediators in the negotiations.
Netanyahu released a video statement during Blinken's press conference, referring to his meeting with Blinken as "good and important," but did not explicitly voice support for the bridging proposal.
The prime minister said the United States "showed understanding to our vital security needs amid joint efforts to release our hostages."
Egyptian sources reported that the talks on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza resumed in Cairo on Monday morning, but no progress was achieved. During the talks, Israel demanded to maintain control over the border region between Egypt and Gaza, while Hamas insisted on a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
Hamas had previously dismissed the bridging proposal, claiming it was too aligned with Israel's demands, particularly concerning Israel's insistence on maintaining military forces within the Palestinian enclave, and accused Israel of introducing new demands.
Civilians, civil defense teams and firefighters try to extinguish a fire that broke out as a result of an Israeli army attack at the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in Deir al Balah, Gaza, August 18, 2024. /CFP
At least 15 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes targeting two gatherings in Gaza City and Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said on Monday.
Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli aircraft struck a gathering of Palestinians in the Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City.
Medical sources said that the air strike killed nine people and left several others injured. All the injured were transferred to the hospital.
In addition, six people were killed in an Israeli strike on a gathering of Palestinians near an internet distribution point west of Khan Younis, according to medical sources.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reported on Monday that at least 289 relief workers, including 207 UNRWA staff members, have been killed in the Gaza Strip, along with 885 health workers.
Many of the deceased lost their lives while providing humanitarian assistance or medical care to the injured and sick, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini wrote on social media platform X.
He also said that over 160 journalists and media workers have been killed while covering the humanitarian impact of the conflict and ongoing violations of international humanitarian law.
Also on Monday, Egypt reiterated its demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza borders, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV channel reported, citing a high-ranking security source.
Egypt renewed the request while denying media reports saying that Egypt had agreed to allow Israel to maintain its forces in the Philadelphi Corridor, according to the report.
Palestinians search under the rubble for bodies at the site of an Israeli raid in Zawida, central Gaza Strip, August 17, 2024. /CFP
The Palestinian Authority has informed Israel of President Mahmoud Abbas's decision to visit the Gaza Strip with members of the Palestinian leadership, a Palestinian source said on Monday. The source, who preferred anonymity, told Xinhua that Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, had sent a message to Israel and international parties regarding Abbas's decision.
"President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine will visit the Gaza Strip with several Palestinian leadership members. The visit aims to assert Palestinian sovereignty over Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, observe the dire conditions, and call for an immediate end to the war and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza," the message read.
The source added that the Palestinian side has also informed the U.S. administration of Abbas's visit and his accompanying delegation, requesting its support and participation if possible.
The Palestinian Authority will reach out to the UN secretary-general, the European Union, and members of the UN Security Council to inform them of this step, said the source.
On Thursday, Abbas announced his intention to visit the Gaza Strip and invited world leaders to join him and ensure his safe arrival.
(With input from Xinhua)