WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday his ninth trip to Israel since its war with Hamas began could be the most consequential.
“This is a decisive moment,” Blinken said alongside Israeli President Isaac Herzog. “Probably the best, maybe the last opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire.”
Blinken said Israel has accepted the latest proposal to reach a ceasefire deal.
“The next important step is for Hamas to say ‘yes,'” he said.
Blinken would not speculate on whether the terror group Hamas would move forward.
“What’s most crucial now is that everyone, everyone refrain from taking any actions that could fuel further conflict,” he said.
However, tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate.
“We’ve witnessed a suspected major terror attack in Tel Aviv,” Herzog said.
Herzog said his government is investigating a suicide bomber near a Tel Aviv synagogue. Hamas claims responsibility for it, and one civilian was hurt.
“This is the way we are living these days,” Herzog said. “We are surrounded by terror from four corners of the earth.”
Herzog thanked Blinken for the ongoing U.S. support for Israel.
Blinken travels next to Egypt Tuesday to continue ceasefire talks.
The deal would also surge more humanitarian support into Gaza. Blinken confirmed reports of a potential polio reemergence there and said he’s hoping to have a response plan in the coming weeks.