Blinken pushes for Gaza ceasefire, hostage release in two weeks
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently in South Korea to prevail on the political impasse in the country, has emphasized Washington’s urgency in concluding a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and securing the release of captives within the next two weeks.
“We very much want to bring this over the finish line in the next two weeks, the time we have remaining,” Blinken said, addressing reporters’ questions on the progress of a potential ceasefire deal.
The Biden administration is intensifying its push for an agreement ahead of the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
The transition in leadership has heightened the urgency to finalize key diplomatic initiatives, including the situation in Gaza, before the current administration exits.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire come amid mounting international pressure and ongoing humanitarian concerns in the region.
The proposed deal aims to halt hostilities and prioritize the safe release of captives held in the conflict zone.
The Biden administration’s focus on achieving this milestone underscores the complexity of balancing diplomatic goals with the impending change in U.S. foreign policy leadership.
Whether this initiative will succeed in the limited time frame remains to be seen.
