Blinken ends latest Mideast visit without a cease-fire, warning 'time is of the essence'

Manila Bulletin

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended his ninth visit to the Middle East since the war in Gaza began without securing any major breakthrough for a cease-fire deal, warning on Tuesday that “time is of the essence” even as Hamas and Israel signaled that challenges remain.  READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/21/blinken-ends-latest-mideast-visit-without-a-cease-fire-warning-time-is-of-the-essence  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00Our message is simple, it's clear, and it's urgent. We need to get the ceasefire

00:08and hostage agreement over the finish line, and we need to do it now.

00:15Time is of the essence. Israel has now accepted that proposal. I heard that directly from Prime

00:20Minister Netanyahu yesterday, and we hope and expect that Hamas will do the same.

00:26That's the critical next step. But once that happens, we also have to complete

00:32the detailed implementation agreements that go along with putting the ceasefire into effect.

00:39And there, it's very important that everyone do what's necessary to bring the flexibility

00:49to the table, to make sure that we can get the implementation agreed, and that the parties to

00:56the ceasefire can make good on the commitments that they've made in the agreement.

01:02The United States does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel.

01:08More specifically, the agreement is very clear on the schedule and the locations

01:18of IDF withdrawals from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to that.

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