On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who expressed his backing for Blinken’s “bridging proposal.” This proposal aims to establish a cease-fire that is connected to the release of hostages held by Hamas and militants detained by Israel.

“We are at a crucial juncture, likely our best and maybe last chance to bring the hostages home, secure a cease-fire, and pave the way for lasting peace and safety,” Blinken told the media.

However, this meeting occurred shortly after Hamas dismissed the proposal, calling it merely an echo of Netanyahu’s demands. Throughout months of intermittent negotiations, obstacles arose, particularly over Israel’s insistence on eliminating Hamas as a military and political entity, while Hamas maintained it would only accept a permanent cease-fire.

Families of the Israeli hostages have been fervently urging Netanyahu to reach a deal. Ayelet Levy-Shachar, whose 20-year-old daughter Naama is among those captured, appealed on Israeli Kan Radio for the government not to “sacrifice my daughter and the many other innocent hostages.”

In Gaza, many Palestinians are not optimistic that Blinken’s visit will lead to a cease-fire.

“They are deceptive and only intent on furthering our suffering,” stated Hanan Abu Hamid, who was forced from her home in Rafah. “They kill us, starve us, and make us homeless. Blinken is ineffective, and his visit harms the Palestinian people.”

Recent Updates:

∎ The primary U.N. agency in Gaza, UNRWA, reported that since the conflict began, 207 of its staff members have lost their lives. “They were engineers, teachers, medical personnel, and humanitarian workers,” stated UNRWA.

∎ Israel has intensified its bombardment of the outskirts of Gaza City overnight, with airstrikes reported in Nuseirat camp and Khan Younis in the southern and central Gaza Strip, where medics confirmed that eight Palestinians were killed.

Hamas claims responsibility for Tel Aviv explosion

On Monday, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, took responsibility for a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv on Sunday, which resulted in the death of the bomber and injuries to an Israeli bystander. The Brigades released a statement asserting that “martyrdom operations  will resurface as long as the occupation continues to massacre” civilians and persists with its targeted killings of Hamas leaders. They noted that the bombing was a joint effort with another militant group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. According to Israeli police, the bomber detonated his backpack while walking down a street. The Israeli security agency, Shin Bet, is currently verifying the identity of the bomber, who is believed to be a man in his 50s, with some Israeli news outlets suggesting he may be from the West Bank.