Iran Press/ West Asia: Blinken will also discuss the process of negotiations on a ceasefire in Gaza, which has reached an impasse, the newspaper says. Israel’s military upcoming operation in Rafah will also be on the agenda.
Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7. killing at least 34,356 and wounding 77,368 others. The death toll in Israel from the October 7 Hamas attacks stands at 1,139.
Israel had announced its goal from the beginning of the operation to destroy Hamas and then release the Israeli captives in Gaza, but after more than seven months, not only this goal has not been achieved, but Israel's insistence on these two goals has caused differences in that society.
Experts believe that Israel is now in a dilemma and must choose between destroying Hamas or freeing the captives.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of the Zionist regime, is under very strong domestic pressure from members of the right-wing part of the government. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, have been threatening to leave the government if Netanyahu enters a deal they say is unfavorable to Israel, including the release of thousands of Palestinian detainees from Israeli jails.
He also has pressure from the opposition like Benny Gantz, who joined Netanyahu’s emergency government.
Pressure also continues to mount on Netanyahu from the Americans as well as from the families of the captives and also those people who have been displaced on the northern side of its border, experts believe that the destruction of Hamas is a far-fetched goal.
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