US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
“The Secretary of State reiterated the urgent need to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza that would ensure the release of hostages, an increase in humanitarian aid and create conditions for broader regional stability,” he said in a statement.
“Blinken also discussed how escalation is not in the interest of either side,” Miller claimed.
During the night of August 9, the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United States issued a joint statement, calling on Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations on a cease-fire in Gaza on August 15 in Doha or Cairo.
Mediators also signaled readiness to present a final draft of the agreement, which is based on the principles outlined by the US president and supports UN Security Council resolution 2735.
An hour after that announcement, Israel expressed its readiness to send a delegation to participate in those talks. Hamas has not yet officially announced whether it will participate, reports TASS.
