Gaza war: Blinken meets Israel's Netanyahu amid ongoing truce talks
The latest updates from the Gaza war.
The United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday (Aug 19) that the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war were maybe the "last chance"to reach an agreement to end the war.
Blinken arrived in Israel's Tel Aviv on Sundayon another West Asia tour to push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This was Blinken's ninth trip to the region since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023.
"This is a decisive moment -- probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security," Blinken said as he met Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
The US secretary of state also met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
'Israel thwarting mediators' efforts'
)
Pan Am plane wreckage that remained untraceable for 74 years has finally been found
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
)
'Most important foundation': Dharmendra Pradhan's long note on 'school education' amid calls for his resignation
)
Foreign funding behind CJP? Delhi HC to hear plea seeking NIA probe into protest amid backlash over police crackdown
)
Ukrainian drone wrecks irreplaceable Russian bomber 800km inside the country, satellite images show it halved
)
'Nothing is more important than...': PM Modi announces BIG decision as Delhi student protest grows
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
From 'Jana Nayagan' Vijay to MGR: 12 politicians who released films while serving as chief ministers and ministers
)
Balen Shah's diplomatic U-turn? Nepal PM to hold one-on-one meetings with India, China envoys
)
Employer pays Rs 4.25 lakh for driver's surgery. What he said to the doctor is an even bigger lesson in kindness
)
'National mourning in America': Iran's IRGC issues chilling 9/11-style threat to US
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 Indian batters with most T20I runs against Zimbabwe
)
Dharmendra Pradhan's daughter deactivates IG, LinkedIn as protesters demand her father's resignation, target her university page
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (July 20-26, 2026): Musafir Cafe, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya, 72 Hours- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Delhi Police chief gets NSA detention powers but force denies link to CJP protests
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters with most runs in India vs Zimbabwe T20Is
)
Man with babyish face spends Rs 10 lakh on beard transplant to be taken seriously at work
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
'Driven and courageous': Salman Khan backs student protests, urges education system reforms without political interference
)
Trump blames AI for viral video of mystery objects thrown from White House window, WH says ‘maintenance’. Who's lying?
)
FIFA 2026 | 'I am truly sorry': Argentina's Enzo Fernandez, who get red card in final, reacts to loss
)
PM Modi invokes Chandra Shekhar Azad's 'unwavering patriotism' as NEET protests enter Day 34. Is there a hidden message?
)
IND vs ZIM, 1st T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?
)
Dharmendra Pradhan's 1997 paper leak protest surfaces amid calls for resignation
)
ICC ODI Rankings: Joe Root jumps big, India trio close in on No. 1 spot
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
)
Maharashtra Bandh call on July 23: What all you need to know
Hamas raised doubts about Blinken's latest Middle East visit as it accused Israel ofundermining his efforts. Hamas said that it held Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahuresponsible for "thwarting the mediators' efforts", delaying an agreement and exposing Israeli hostages inGazato the same aggression faced by Palestinians.
The mediating countries - Qatar, the United States and Egypt - have so far failed to narrow enough differences to reach an agreement in months of on-off negotiations, and violence continued unabated in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
Israeli strikes killed at least 21 people inGazaon Sunday, Reuters reported citing Palestinian authorities.
Truce talks to continue this week
The talks towards the ceasefire would continue this week in Cairo, and Blinken wouldtry to secure a breakthrough after the USput forward bridging proposals that the mediating countries believe would close gaps between the warring parties.
There has been increased urgency to reach a ceasefire deal amid fears of escalation across the wider region. Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month.
Hamas has pushed for a ceasefire deal to end the war, while Israel has not been willing to agree to go beyond a temporary pause in the fighting.
(With inputs from agencies)