Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
International

Netanyahu accepts US proposal on hostage deal; Blinken calls on Hamas to do same

Darpan News Desk IANS, 19 Aug, 2024 05:27 PM
  • Netanyahu accepts US proposal on hostage deal; Blinken calls on Hamas to do same

Jerusalem, Aug 20 (IANS) Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to the American 'bridging proposal' on the release of hostages after a three-hour meeting with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem.

"The Prime Minister reiterated Israel's commitment to the current American proposal on the release of our hostages, which takes into account Israel's security needs, which he strongly insists on," Netanyahu's Office said in a statement on Monday.

The statement marked the first time Netanyahu publicly endorsed the latest US formula.

Blinken termed his meeting with Netanyahu a "very constructive" one and said that the Israeli Prime Minister has confirmed to him that Israel accepts the bridging proposal.

"It's now incumbent on Hamas to do the same. And then the parties, with the help of the mediators – the United States, Egypt, and Qatar – have to come together and complete the process of reaching clear understandings about how they'll implement the commitments that they've made under this agreement," he said.

"But the next important step is for Hamas to say yes and then, in the coming days, for all of the expert negotiators to get together to work on clear understandings on implementing the agreement," Blinken added.

Earlier on Saturday, Israel had cautiously welcomed the new US proposal. The Prime Minister's office had then said that the proposal "contains components that are acceptable to Israel".

The US proposal enables the finalising of a hostages-for-ceasefire deal by the end of this week.

Meanwhile, Hamas on Sunday night rejected the US formula. In its statement, Hamas charged that Netanyahu "sets new conditions and demands" to thwart the talks and prolong the war in Gaza.

The group further claimed that the latest US-backed text was aligned with Israel's demands.

MORE International ARTICLES

Majority of docs, nurses in UK came from India: Study

Majority of docs, nurses in UK came from India: Study
India was the top country of nationality for newly-recruited overseas doctors (20 per cent) and nurses (46 per cent), followed by Nigeria, Pakistan and the Philippines, the study said. India (33 per cent) was also among top countries of citizenship for workers using Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) in 2022, followed by Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

Majority of docs, nurses in UK came from India: Study

Indian-American jailed for smuggling Indian nationals into US using Uber

Indian-American jailed for smuggling Indian nationals into US using Uber
Rajinder Pal Singh, aka Jaspal Gill of Elk Grove in California, was sentenced on Tuesday at the District Court in Seattle for Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Certain Aliens for Profit and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Singh pleaded guilty in February, admitting that he took in more than $500,000 as a key member of a smuggling ring that used Uber to transport people illegally.

Indian-American jailed for smuggling Indian nationals into US using Uber

Harassment of WSJ journo 'unacceptable', says White House

Harassment of WSJ journo 'unacceptable', says White House
At a press briefing on Monday,  White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was asked about the "intense online" harassment the reporter was facing following her questions at the joint conference on June 22.

Harassment of WSJ journo 'unacceptable', says White House

New visa rules for Indian students in Australia, work-hour cap from July 1

New visa rules for Indian students in Australia, work-hour cap from July 1
Beginning July 1, Indian graduates studying in Australian tertiary institutions will be able to apply for work without visa sponsorship for up to eight years. In addition, the allowable work-hour cap for international students will be increased from 40 hours to 48 hours per fortnight, along with a two-year work visa extension.

New visa rules for Indian students in Australia, work-hour cap from July 1

Diaspora says its expertise in healthcare, IT boosts soft power paradigm between India, US

Diaspora says its expertise in healthcare, IT boosts soft power paradigm between India, US
As visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a slew of CEOs and sought their technological collaboration on Wednesday, eminent members of the diaspora community also said that it is time to further bolster US-India ties in strategic areas like defence and manufacturing.

Diaspora says its expertise in healthcare, IT boosts soft power paradigm between India, US

Modi flexes India’s cultural reach on Yoga Day with backbends and corpse poses on the UN lawn

Modi flexes India’s cultural reach on Yoga Day with backbends and corpse poses on the UN lawn
With a checkerboard of made-in-India yoga mats covering the U.N. headquarters’ spacious north lawn, Modi stopped and bowed at a statue of the assassinated Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. Then, in brief remarks, Modi turned to the topic at hand, portraying yoga as an all-ages, portable practice accessible to all faiths and cultures.

Modi flexes India’s cultural reach on Yoga Day with backbends and corpse poses on the UN lawn