Israeli Defence Minister sees opportunity for hostage release in ceasefire talks
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that he sees an opportunity to secure the release of all hostages still held in Gaza through a ceasefire deal.
India and the United States will hold the 2+2 ministerial dialogue involving the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries this month. Apart from bilateral issues, the two countries will also discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict and the war in Ukraine.
The US State Department announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to New Delhi on the last leg of the Asia tour beginning on Thursday. Blinken will be joined by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III at the 2+2 ministerial dialogue with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
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The two sides will discuss both bilateral and global concerns and developments in the Indo-Pacific, an official statement said.
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The exact date of the ministerial dialogue has not been announced but it is likely to take place before Diwali.
Before reaching India, Blinken will visit Israel, Jordan, Japan and South Korea.
In Israel, he will reiterate US support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism consistent with international humanitarian law and discuss efforts to safeguard US citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, work to secure the immediate release of hostages, increase the pace and volume of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza for distribution to Palestinian civilians, and prevent the conflict from spreading, the statement read.
“After this, he will go to Jordan, where Blinken will underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives and our shared commitment to facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, the resumption of essential services, and ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced outside of Gaza,” it said.
He will also discuss urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric, reduce regional tensions, and reaffirm the US commitment to working with partners to set the conditions necessary for a durable and sustainable peace in the Middle East, the statement added.
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