Israel's Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and former Minister of defence and now minister without portfolio in the special War Cabinet Benny Gantz both met Thursday evening with the visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Prior to his meeting with President Abbas, Blinken engaged in discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet in Jerusalem.
The United States supports further extension in the operational pause between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of all the hostages in captivity, the White House said on Tuesday.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the possibility of concluding a peace treaty between the two states.
Blinken will discuss Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law, continued efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages and protecting civilian life during Israel's counter-offensive against Hamas in Gaza.
The hostage-and-truce agreement, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, follows the abduction of 240 people by Hamas and other terror groups on October 7 during a violent rampage in southern Israel, resulting in the death of 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
"I welcome the deal to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its brutal assault against Israel on October 7th." The US president said. "I'm gratified that these brave souls, who have endured an unspeakable ordeal, will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully
Eleven members of the US Congress, in a letter to US State Secretary Antony Blinken, urged the Biden administration to withhold US assistance to Pakistan until the country holds free and fair elections and restores constitutional order, Dawn reported.
"KSS terrorist activity has threatened the lives of both US and Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS personnel in Iraq and Syria," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.