During his visit to Israel, Blinken is increasing US diplomatic pressure to achieve a ceasefire despite ongoing disagreements.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pushing for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during his visit to Israel. He described the ongoing negotiations as “perhaps the last” chance to achieve the release of prisoners and a ceasefire.

Ahead of his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv on Monday, the top US diplomat said he was also working to de-escalate other regional tensions fueled by the war in Gaza.

Blinken is increasing U.S. diplomatic pressure to reach a deal to end the 10-month conflict after the United States put forward proposals last week to bridge the gap between the warring parties.

“This is a pivotal moment – probably the best, perhaps the last opportunity to bring the hostages home, achieve a ceasefire and put everyone on a better path to lasting peace and security,” Blinken said on his ninth trip to the region since Israel began its war on Gaza in October.

“I’m here as part of an intense diplomatic effort on behalf of President Biden to try to get this deal done and ultimately passed… It’s time for everyone to come together to say yes and not look for excuses to say no,” Blinken added.

“It is time for it to finally happen. And it is also time to ensure that no one takes any steps that could jeopardise this process,” he continued.

The United States and other Western leaders have called on Iran and its allies to refrain from expected attacks on Israel in retaliation for recent killings of senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures.

Global concerns that Israel’s war could escalate into a full-scale regional conflict multiplied following the assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and senior commander of the Lebanese Hezbollah group Fuad Shukr in Beirut last month.

“We are working to ensure that there is no escalation, that there are no provocations, that there are no actions that would in any way dissuade us from making this deal or that the conflict would escalate to other places and with greater intensity,” Blinken said.

The diplomat is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later.

Herzog, who serves a largely ceremonial role, said the Israelis wanted to get the Gaza prisoners back “as soon as possible” after Hamas kidnapped them during its Oct. 7 attack. Israel’s war began after Hamas’ surprise attack.

“There is no greater humanitarian goal and no greater humanitarian cause than releasing our hostages,” Herzog told Blinken.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar acted as mediators in numerous indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

The last round of talks ended on Friday in Qatar without a solution. They are scheduled to continue this week in Cairo, Egypt.

Hamas insists that the ceasefire should end the war permanently, while Israel says an agreement should not prevent Israel from continuing the war, despite repeated US calls for an agreement to end the conflict.

Meanwhile, Israel’s deadly attacks in the Gaza Strip continue; the death toll from Israeli bombings now stands at over 40,000, according to Palestinian health authorities.