Blinken returns to Mideast in push for hostage deal and postwar plan

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday on his 5th seek advice from to the area because the outbreak of the battle in Gaza, hoping to press forward with a possible cease-fire deal and postwar making plans whilst tamping down regional tensions.

However on all 3 fronts he faces primary demanding situations: Hamas and Israel are publicly at odds over key parts of a possible truce. Israel has pushed aside U.S. requires a trail to a Palestinian state, and Iran’s militant allies within the area have proven little signal of being deterred by means of U.S. moves.

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In Gaza, in the meantime, Hamas has begun to re-emerge in probably the most maximum devastated spaces after Israeli forces pulled again, a sign that Israel’s central function of crushing the crowd stays elusive. Video pictures from the similar spaces displays huge destruction, with just about each and every construction broken or destroyed.

Blinken was once anticipated to fulfill with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi officers say the dominion continues to be focused on normalizing members of the family with Israel in a doubtlessly landmark deal, however provided that there’s a credible plan to create a Palestinian state.

However the sort of grand discount seems a ways off because the battle nonetheless rages in Gaza, the place 113 our bodies had been dropped at hospitals within the closing 24 hours on my own, consistent with the Well being Ministry within the Hamas-ruled territory. It says every other 205 other people had been wounded.

The fatalities carry the total Palestinian dying toll from just about 4 months of battle to 27,478. The ministry does no longer distinguish between civilians and opponents in its rely however says many of the useless had been ladies and youngsters.

The battle in Gaza has leveled huge swaths of the tiny enclave, displaced 85% of its inhabitants and driven 1 / 4 of citizens to hunger.

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A video circulating on-line Monday confirmed masked gunmen main a line of shirtless detainees previous bombed-out structures in northern Gaza, forcing them to shout out that they’re thieves. The Related Press was once no longer in a position to independently verify the incident, however it’s in line with AP reporting.

It was once the most recent signal that Hamas, which has governed Gaza since seizing energy from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, is reasserting keep an eye on in portions of the north. Citizens say Hamas-led safety forces, which numbered within the tens of 1000’s sooner than the battle, have begun to reappear in some spaces the place they focal point on distributing civil salaries and cracking down on looters.

The Israeli army says it has introduced centered operations in northern Gaza over the past week to stop Hamas from rebuilding its functions.

Top Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to proceed the battle till Israel crushes Hamas’ army and governing talents and wins the go back of the 100-plus hostages nonetheless held by means of the militant team after the Oct. 7 cross-border raid that ignited the battle.

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Hamas and different militants killed some 1,200 other people, most commonly civilians, within the assault and kidnapped round 250. Greater than 100 captives, most commonly ladies and youngsters, had been launched throughout a weeklong cease-fire in November in change for the discharge of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by means of Israel.

Assembly with troops on Monday, Netanyahu stated Israel had defeated 18 of Hamas’ 24 battalions, with out offering proof. “We’re on how you can absolute victory, and I need to inform you that we’re dedicated to it and we can no longer give it up.”

America, Qatar and Egypt have drawn up a suggestion for a cease-fire of a number of weeks and the phased liberate of the rest of the hostages.

However Hamas, which has but to publicly reply to the proposal, has stated it received’t liberate to any extent further captives till Israel ends its offensive. The militants are anticipated to call for the discharge of 1000’s of Palestinian prisoners in go back — calls for Netanyahu has publicly governed out.

The battle has ignited tensions around the area, with a flurry of moves and counterstrikes elevating the danger of a much wider struggle.

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Israel and Lebanon’s tough Hezbollah militant team industry fireplace around the border every day, and in fresh weeks obvious Israeli moves have killed senior Hezbollah commanders.

A drone assault introduced by means of Iran-backed militants killed 3 U.S. squaddies close to the Jordan-Syria border closing week, prompting a wave of retaliatory U.S. moves. America and Britain have additionally performed moves at the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen according to their assaults on global delivery within the Purple Sea.

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Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Magdy from Cairo. Related Press journalist Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem contributed.

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Practice AP’s protection of the Israel-Hamas battle at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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