Blinken ends latest Mideast visit without a cease-fire, warning 'time is of the essence'

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended his ninth visit to the Middle East since the war in Gaza began without securing any major breakthrough for a cease-fire deal, warning on Tuesday that “time is of the essence” even as Hamas and Israel signaled that challenges remain.

READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/21/blinken-ends-latest-mideast-visit-without-a-cease-fire-warning-time-is-of-the-essence

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Transcript
00:00Our message is simple, it's clear, and it's urgent. We need to get the ceasefire
00:08and hostage agreement over the finish line, and we need to do it now.
00:15Time is of the essence. Israel has now accepted that proposal. I heard that directly from Prime
00:20Minister Netanyahu yesterday, and we hope and expect that Hamas will do the same.
00:26That's the critical next step. But once that happens, we also have to complete
00:32the detailed implementation agreements that go along with putting the ceasefire into effect.
00:39And there, it's very important that everyone do what's necessary to bring the flexibility
00:49to the table, to make sure that we can get the implementation agreed, and that the parties to
00:56the ceasefire can make good on the commitments that they've made in the agreement.
01:02The United States does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel.
01:08More specifically, the agreement is very clear on the schedule and the locations
01:18of IDF withdrawals from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to that.

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