Blink back to Israel to push ahead the further extension of the truce

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to the Middle East this week as the United States hopes to find a way to extend the truce in Gaza and release more hostages, the US State Department said.

This will be the third visit to the US top diplomat region since the war between Israel and Hamas ʹ the Palestinian group declared terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union began last month.

Blinken will travel to Israel and the West Coast after holding meetings Tuesday and Wednesday in Brussels and Skopje, where he will meet with NATO foreign ministers, with representatives of the Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSBE) respectively.

Israel has agreed to pause its military operations in exchange for gradual release of hostages Hamas in the October 7th initial attacks in southern Israel. The deal was expected to expire Monday, but was extended for another two days, meaning it will expire at the time Blinken arrives in Israel.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that the US hopes to see further extensions of the pause, but he stressed it depends on whether Hamas will continue to release hostages.

In Israel and the West Coast, Blinken “will discuss Israel's right to defend itself, which coincides with international humanitarian law, but also for continued efforts to ensure the release of remaining hostages, protecting the lives of civilians during Israel's Gaza operations and accelerating the sending of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza”, the spokesman said through a statement. The UN, Matthew Miller.

He said Blinken would also discuss principles for post-war Gaza, but also the need to create an independent Palestinian state and prevent the expansion of the conflict.