United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken held phone calls with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Israeli Minister without Portfolio Benny Gantz to discuss the latest hostage deal proposal revealed by US President Joe Biden last week.
Blinken commended "Israel's readiness to conclude a deal and affirmed that the onus is on Hamas to accept," stressing that the deal would bring about the advancement of "Israel’s long-term security interests."
He also reaffirmed the "ironclad commitment" the US has towards Israel's security.