(1 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem – 1 May 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Josef Federman, The Associated Press:
"U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has wrapped up his latest visit to the Middle East. This is his seventh trip to the region since war erupted between Israel and Hamas last October. And this time, he is reporting some progress. Blinken spent the day speaking to Israeli leaders and visiting some of the Israeli border crossings, with Gaza. He says he is pleased with the recent steps taken by Israel to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. That included the re-opening of a major crossing during his visit which had been closed since October. Now Blinken is also working on forging a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas to end a war that is nearly seven months old. Egyptian mediators say these efforts are making progress. They are reporting flexibility by both sides, but there does seem to be some disagreements over whether the cease-fire will mean a long-term pause in the fighting or a complete halt to the war and full withdrawal of the Israeli troops from Gaza. Those details still need to be worked out. Blinken says he was pleased with the flexibility that Israel has shown. He says it is now time for Hamas to step up and make a deal. But at the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sticking to his pledge, he says he still wants to carry out an operation in the Gaza city of Rafah – that is the last Hamas stronghold in Gaza. Blinken has issued a warning against that, he says he does not want to see an Israeli operation in Rafah unless Israel can present a better and credible plan to protect the hundreds of thousands of civilians huddling in Rafah."
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STORYLINE:
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel on Wednesday to press for a cease-fire deal in the Israel-Hamas war, saying “the time is now” and warning that Hamas would bear the blame for any failure to reach an agreement to halt the war in Gaza.
On his seventh visit since the latest war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October, Blinken is trying to advance a truce that would free hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a halt to the fighting and delivery of much needed food, medicine and water into Gaza. Palestinian prisoners are also expected to be released as part of the deal.
The U.S. has pressured Israel to increase aid deliveries during the war, and on Tuesday, Israel reopened a border crossing with hard-hit northern Gaza Strip for the first time since it was damaged at the start of the war.
Josef Federman of the Associated Press explained that Egyptian mediators are reporting that there is "progress" and " flexibility by both sides" during ongoing negotiations over a cease-fire deal.
However, he added that disagreements remain over "whether the cease-fire will mean a long-term pause in the fighting or a complete halt to the war and full withdrawal of the Israeli troops from Gaza."
Federman also highlighted how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is sticking to his pledge" of carrying out a major military operation in Rafah despite Blinken warning against it.
On Oct. 7, Palestinian militants launched an unprecedented attack into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducting around 250 hostages. Israel says militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.
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