Blinken urges ceasefire amid Hamas visit to Russia

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Qatar on Thursday for ceasefire talks as part of a wider regional tour to boost efforts for a truce deal following Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Blinken met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani to discuss renewed efforts to secure the release of hostages and end the war in Gaza. This comes after visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel as part of Blinken’s eleventh trip to the region to broker a ceasefire deal since the war broke out in October 2023.

There are renewed hopes for a deal after the killing of Hamas leader Sinwar, which may create leeway for a revised approach from the Palestinians. Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation is in Moscow for talks on the war and to push for negotiations on a national unity government for post-war Gaza. Russia has played a significant mediator role between Israel and the Palestinians, with Hamas looking for Russian involvement in ceasefire talks as a counterbalance to the US.

The US is working towards a deal that includes rebuilding Gaza and ensuring post-war governance, while efforts are ongoing to release hostages, including two Russian-Israeli dual nationals.

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