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According to China News Network, citing AFP, in order to promote ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, US Secretary of State Blinken arrived in Israel on the 18th local time and will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on the 19th local time. The report said that this is Blinken's ninth trip to the Middle East since the start of a new round of conflict between Palestine and Israel in October last year. After visiting Israel, Blinken will continue his visit to Egypt.

According to reports, the US officials accompanying Blinken said that in addition to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Blinken will also meet with Israeli President Herzog and Israeli Defense Minister Galant on the 19th. Blinken's visit aims to seek to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of detained persons through the transition proposal put forward by the United States in the recent ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.

According to CCTV News, citing the Times of Israel on the 18th, Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting held that day that Israel will stick to its position and demands on key issues in the negotiations for a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. He said that Israel can show flexibility in some areas, but not in others. He accused Hamas of refusing to compromise in the ceasefire negotiations, declaring that "the international community must put pressure on Hamas." In addition, he said that Israel is ready to respond to any threat, whether it is defense or attack.

A new round of ceasefire talks on Gaza was held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on the 15th. Representatives from Israel, Qatar, the United States and Egypt attended the meeting, but the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) was absent. After the meeting, Qatar, the United States and Egypt said that the negotiations were "constructive" and the United States proposed a transitional proposal to Hamas and Israel. Egyptian sources said that the parties plan to meet again in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on the 21st of this month to finalize the "final agreement."

US President Biden said after the talks in Doha that Israel and Hamas were "getting closer" to a ceasefire agreement. However, this statement was denied by Hamas, which called it an "illusion."

Hamas said on the 18th local time that after listening to the mediator's statement on the progress of the negotiations, Hamas believed that Netanyahu was still hindering the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Hamas said that the new proposal responded to and was consistent with Netanyahu's conditions, especially his refusal to permanently cease fire and withdraw troops from Gaza, and his insistence on continuing to occupy the "Netzarim Corridor", Rafah Port and "Philadelphia Corridor" in the Gaza Strip. Hamas pointed out that Netanyahu set new conditions for the exchange of documents for detained persons, which hindered the completion of the exchange agreement.

Source: China News Network, CCTV News