Blinken warns Israel, Hamas of last chance to end Gaza war | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Sunday
July 13, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2025
Blinken warns Israel, Hamas of last chance to end Gaza war

Hamas-Israel war

Reuters
19 August, 2024, 07:05 pm
Last modified: 19 August, 2024, 07:09 pm

Related News

  • Gaza truce talks faltering over withdrawal, Palestinian and Israeli sources say
  • Israeli strike kills children near Gaza clinic with no immediate truce in sight
  • US sanctions UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese over ICC ties, criticism of Israel
  • Netanyahu and Trump prioritise hostages as Gaza military campaign grinds on
  • Gazans reject Trump's displacement plan despite death and destruction

Blinken warns Israel, Hamas of last chance to end Gaza war

The talks in Qatar last week paused without a breakthrough, but the negotiations are to resume this week based on a US "bridging proposal".

Reuters
19 August, 2024, 07:05 pm
Last modified: 19 August, 2024, 07:09 pm
US Secretary of State Blinken meets with Israel's President Isaac Herzog, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 19, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/Pool
US Secretary of State Blinken meets with Israel's President Isaac Herzog, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 19, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/Pool

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Monday that the latest push for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal was probably the best and possibly last opportunity, urging Israel and Hamas towards an elusive agreement.

However, with Palestinian Islamist group Hamas announcing a resumption of suicide bombing inside Israel after many years, and with Israeli airstrikes still pounding Gaza, there was little sign of conciliation.

Hamas and another militant group, Islamic Jihad, said they were behind a blast near a synagogue in Tel Aviv on Sunday that killed the bomber and wounded one other person. Suicide bombings "will return to the forefront" while the Gaza war continues, Hamas said in a statement.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The talks in Qatar last week paused without a breakthrough, but the negotiations are to resume this week based on a US "bridging proposal".

Blinken met Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday morning.

"This is a decisive moment, probably the best, maybe the last opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security," Blinken told reporters before meeting Herzog.

Months of on-off talks have circled the same issues, with Israel saying the war can only end with the destruction of Hamas as a military and political force and Hamas saying it will only accept a permanent, and not a temporary, ceasefire.

There are disagreements over Israel's continued military presence inside Gaza, particularly along the border with Egypt, over the free movement of Palestinians inside the territory, and over the identity and number of prisoners to be freed in a swap.

Despite US expressions of optimism, both Israel and Hamas have signalled that a deal will be difficult.

Hamas accused Netanyahu on Sunday of "thwarting the mediators efforts" and Turkey said Hamas envoys had told it that US officials were "painting an overly optimistic picture".

Netanyahu told Israel's cabinet on Sunday that "we are conducting negotiations and not a scenario in which we just give and give", his office said.

However, a US official, asked if Hamas' comments amounted to a rejection of the deal, said Washington believed the bridging proposal it outlined last week addressed various concerns and would iron out difficult implementation aspects.

The current war in Gaza began on Oct. 7 last year when Hamas gunmen stormed across the border into Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and abducting about 250 hostages according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's military campaign has since levelled swathes of Gaza, driving nearly all of its 2.3 million people from their homes, giving rise to deadly hunger and disease and killing at least 40,000 people according to Palestinian health authorities.

The main UN agency in Gaza, UNRWA, said on Monday that 207 of its staff had been killed since the war began. "They were engineers, teachers, medical staff. They were humanitarian workers," UNRWA said in a statement.

ESCALATION RISK

Blinken's visit comes as US President Joe Biden faces mounting pressure over his stance on the conflict, with his Democratic party holding its national convention on Monday amid worries about Muslim and Arab-American votes in swing states.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri was dismissive of the chances that Blinken would press Netanyahu to accept a deal. "Blinken acts as if he was a minister in Netanyahu's government," Zuhri told Reuters.

Families of Israeli hostages, who have staged protests urging a deal, spoke out again on Monday. "Don't sacrifice my daughter and the dozens of helpless hostages," said Ayelet Levy-Shachar on Kan Radio. Her daughter Naama, 20, was captured at an army base.

Inside Gaza, Palestinians said they had little optimism that Blinken's visit would bring a ceasefire.

"They are lying just to destroy us more and more. Kill us and kill our children, starve us and make us homeless. Blinken is useless, his visit will harm the Palestinian people," said Hanan Abu Hamid, who was displaced from her home in Rafah.

The conflict has put the entire Middle East region on edge, triggering months of border clashes between Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, and threatening a wider escalation drawing in major powers.

Blinken warned against any provocations. "It's also time to make sure that no one takes any steps that could derail this process, and so we're working to make sure that there is no escalation, that there are no provocations."

Israel's military said there had been more Hezbollah drone strikes on the country's north near the frontier with Lebanon on Monday. Blinken is to meet Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant after meeting Netanyahu.

In the latest Gaza fighting, Israeli military advances north of Khan Younis on Monday reached the coastal road, effectively cutting access between the city and areas to the north, residents said. They said fierce clashes could be heard.

Israel also stepped up its bombardment of Gaza City suburbs overnight, and airstrikes in Nuseirat camp and in Khan Younis in southern and central Gaza Strip medics said eight Palestinians were killed.

Top News / World+Biz / Middle East

Israel-Hamas / Gaza / US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Infographic: TBS
    Dollar price plummets by Tk2.9 in a week as demand wanes
  • Screengrab blurred
    Mitford murder sparks political storm as BNP on backfoot, Jamaat and NCP pounce
  • Representational image
    Some issues remain unresolved despite progress in 2nd round of US tariff talks: Press Minister Mortoza

MOST VIEWED

  • Representational image
    In addition to 35% tariff, US demands 40% local value addition for 'Made in Bangladesh' goods
  • RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman speaks at the press briefing on a fake bomb threat on Biman Bangladesh flight on Saturday, 12 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Mother faked bomb threat on Biman flight to stop married son from flying with girlfriend: RAB
  • Screengrab blurred
    Killers bash in head of man with rock, stomp body with perverse pleasure
  • Photo: UNB
    Saima Wazed Putul ‘placed on indefinite leave’ from WHO role amid corruption allegations
  • How tender rules and a lone bidder stall a $2.5b power plant
    How tender rules and a lone bidder stall a $2.5b power plant
  • Bangladesh and US hold tariff talks on 11 July 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Dhaka, Washington yet to agree on 20% of US tariff conditions: BGMEA

Related News

  • Gaza truce talks faltering over withdrawal, Palestinian and Israeli sources say
  • Israeli strike kills children near Gaza clinic with no immediate truce in sight
  • US sanctions UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese over ICC ties, criticism of Israel
  • Netanyahu and Trump prioritise hostages as Gaza military campaign grinds on
  • Gazans reject Trump's displacement plan despite death and destruction

Features

The 2020 Harrier's Porsche Cayenne coupe-like rear roofline, integrated LED lighting with the Modellista special bodykit all around, and a swanky front grille scream OEM Plus for the sophisticated enthusiast looking for a bigger family car that isn’t boring. PHOTO: Ahbaar Mohammad

2020 Toyota Harrier Hybrid: The Japanese Macan

11h | Wheels
The showroom was launched through a lavish event held there, and in attendance were DHS Motors’ Managing Director Nafees Khundker, CEO Imran Zaman Khan, and GMs Arman Rashid and Farhan Samad. PHOTO: Akif Hamid

GAC inaugurate flagship showroom in Dhaka

11h | Wheels
After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

1d | Panorama
Photo: Collected/BBC

What Hitler’s tariff policy misfire can teach the modern world

2d | The Big Picture

More Videos from TBS

Why is there a mystery surrounding the death of 'Jalibi' actress Humaira?

Why is there a mystery surrounding the death of 'Jalibi' actress Humaira?

3h | TBS World
Why cockpit audio deepens the mystery of Air India crash

Why cockpit audio deepens the mystery of Air India crash

4h | Others
Housing officer shot in Pallavi for not paying bribe

Housing officer shot in Pallavi for not paying bribe

5h | TBS Today
BNP does not protect criminals like Sheikh Hasina: Rizvi

BNP does not protect criminals like Sheikh Hasina: Rizvi

4h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net