U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday for his third visit to the region since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. Blinken is scheduled to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss extending the temporary ceasefire, which has seen fighters in Gaza release hostages while Israel has freed Palestinians from its prisons, in addition to ways to enhance humanitarian aid to Gaza.
A Palestinian official indicated that Blinken is also expected to visit the West Bank, likely meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. His arrival in Israel coincides with Hamas's release of 10 Israeli hostages, some of whom hold dual citizenship from the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands.
President Joe Biden stated that American hostage Liyaat Benin is safe in Egypt and will return home soon with her three children. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said on X (formerly Twitter) that "the released hostages include 5 minors and 5 women, some of whom are dual nationals: one Dutch minor, three Germans, and one American." He noted that in exchange for these hostages, Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners.
A Palestinian source familiar with efforts to extend the ceasefire told Reuters that Hamas is currently delivering more Israeli hostages in Gaza, on the last day of a two-day extension of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. A source from Hamas confirmed to AFP that "discussions continue and mediation efforts are intense to extend the ceasefire for two days or more."
