Blinken will return to Israel as the US hopes to see further extensions of the Gaza cease-fire

For *** first round of hostages captured by Hamas under *** four day ceasefire deal, women and Children climbing out of ambulances in Egypt then boarding *** bus crossing into Israel Friday after seven weeks of captivity. Over the next few days, we expect that dozens of hostages will be returned to their families. We also remember all those who are still being held and renew our commitment to work for their release as well. These photos show some of the 24 hostages. The Red Cross says they carried out of Gaza Friday on that list is *** little girl as young as two who the victims families are saying were released together with her four year old sister and mother and elderly people, women in their mid eighties who are suffering with very serious medical conditions. Meanwhile, an Israeli official confirms that they released 39 Palestinian prisoners marking the first phase of *** swap. 150 Palestinian prisoners and 50 Israeli hostages are expected to be freed under *** four day ceasefire deal. The temporary pause in fighting also allowing much needed humanitarian aid to get into Gaza these four very precious days as the chance to rebuild the possibilities of saving lives and more dignity, bringing more dignity to people. Israeli strikes have reportedly killed thousands of Palestinian civilians since Hamas's attack last month triggered the war. Many hope for *** longer truce but fear relief could be short lived.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return this week to the Middle East as the U.S. hopes to find a way to extend a cease-fire in Gaza and get more hostages released, the State Department said Monday. It will be his third trip to the region since Israel's war with Hamas began last month.Video above: Hostages released amid Israel-Hamas cease-fireBlinken will travel to Israel and the West Bank after attending Ukraine-focused meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in Brussels and Skopje, North Macedonia, where foreign ministers from NATO and the Organization for Peace and Security in Europe are gathering.Israel has agreed to pauses in its military operations in exchange for the gradual release of hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. The agreement had been due to expire Monday but was extended for an additional two days, meaning the extension will be expiring just as Blinken is arriving in Israel.White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday the U.S. hopes to see the pause extended further, but it is dependent on Hamas continuing to release hostages.In Israel and the West Bank, Blinken will 바카라 게임 웹사이트�discuss Israel바카라 게임 웹사이트�s right to defend itself consistent with international humanitarian law, as well as continued efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages, protect civilian life during Israel바카라 게임 웹사이트�s operations in Gaza, and accelerate humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza,바카라 게임 웹사이트� State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.He said Blinken also will discuss the principles for a post-conflict Gaza, as well as the need to establish an independent Palestinian state and prevent the conflict from widening.In the occupied West Bank, Blinken is expected to see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Blinken and other U.S. officials have said they believe the Palestinian Authority should play a significant role in governing post-conflict Gaza.From Israel and the West Bank, Blinken will travel to the United Arab Emirates for discussions with regional leaders who will be in Dubai to attend the COP28 climate summit.Blinken has been engaged in furious diplomacy to try to prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading, expand the provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in the territory, secure the release of hostages and arrange for foreigners and dual nationals to leave Gaza overland to Egypt.On each of his prior two trips, Blinken has traveled to Israel and Jordan multiple times. Between the two trips, he also made stops in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE.Blinken will arrive in Israel having just participated in an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe foreign ministers meeting in Skopje. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said he plans to attend the OSCE meeting, possibly setting the stage for a U.S.-Russia confrontation there over Ukraine.In Brussels, Blinken will attend the two-day NATO gathering, which will include the first foreign minister-level meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, a body created by alliance leaders at their last summit to improve cooperation and coordination and help prepare Kyiv for eventual membership.바카라 게임 웹사이트�Allies will continue to support Ukraine바카라 게임 웹사이트�s self-defense until Russia stops its war of aggression,바카라 게임 웹사이트� said Jim O바카라 게임 웹사이트�Brien, the top U.S. diplomat for Europe.The NATO meeting will also address the tensions in the Western Balkans, where there are calls for NATO to increase its military presence in response to concerns that hostility between Serbia and Kosovo could escalate to outright conflict.Violence between the two has broken out twice in recent months, and Western countries fear that Russia could try to foment trouble in the Balkans to avert attention from the war in Ukraine.Last week, Albania's prime minister urged NATO to further boost its military forces in Kosovo and secure the country바카라 게임 웹사이트�s borders with Serbia, warning that recent ethnic violence in Kosovo could potentially trigger a wider Balkan conflict. NATO has already strengthened its military presence in Kosovo 바카라 게임 웹사이트� established after the 1999 bombing campaign against Serbia 바카라 게임 웹사이트� with about 1,000 additional troops and heavier weaponry, bringing its deployment there to about 4,500 troops.Blinken will underscore U.S. and NATO support for democracy and stability in the region, including a commitment to back all countries바카라 게임 웹사이트� aspirations to join the European Union, O바카라 게임 웹사이트�Brien said.Serbia doesn바카라 게임 웹사이트�t recognize Kosovo바카라 게임 웹사이트�s formal declaration of independence in 2008. Both countries want to join the European Union, which is mediating a dialogue between the former foes. Brussels has warned both that refusal to compromise jeopardizes their chances of joining the bloc.The NATO ministers will also discuss plans for the alliance바카라 게임 웹사이트�s 75th anniversary summit to be held in Washington in July 2024.

Video above: Hostages released amid Israel-Hamas cease-fire

Blinken will travel to Israel and the West Bank after attending Ukraine-focused meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in Brussels and Skopje, North Macedonia, where foreign ministers from NATO and the Organization for Peace and Security in Europe are gathering.

Israel has agreed to pauses in its military operations in exchange for the gradual release of hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. The agreement had been due to expire Monday but was extended for an additional two days, meaning the extension will be expiring just as Blinken is arriving in Israel.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday the U.S. hopes to see the pause extended further, but it is dependent on Hamas continuing to release hostages.

In Israel and the West Bank, Blinken will 바카라 게임 웹사이트�discuss Israel바카라 게임 웹사이트�s right to defend itself consistent with international humanitarian law, as well as continued efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages, protect civilian life during Israel바카라 게임 웹사이트�s operations in Gaza, and accelerate humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza,바카라 게임 웹사이트� State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

He said Blinken also will discuss the principles for a post-conflict Gaza, as well as the need to establish an independent Palestinian state and prevent the conflict from widening.

In the occupied West Bank, Blinken is expected to see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Blinken and other U.S. officials have said they believe the Palestinian Authority should play a significant role in governing post-conflict Gaza.

From Israel and the West Bank, Blinken will travel to the United Arab Emirates for discussions with regional leaders who will be in Dubai to attend the COP28 climate summit.

Blinken has been engaged in furious diplomacy to try to prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading, expand the provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in the territory, secure the release of hostages and arrange for foreigners and dual nationals to leave Gaza overland to Egypt.

On each of his prior two trips, Blinken has traveled to Israel and Jordan multiple times. Between the two trips, he also made stops in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE.

Blinken will arrive in Israel having just participated in an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe foreign ministers meeting in Skopje. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said he plans to attend the OSCE meeting, possibly setting the stage for a U.S.-Russia confrontation there over Ukraine.

In Brussels, Blinken will attend the two-day NATO gathering, which will include the first foreign minister-level meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, a body created by alliance leaders at their last summit to improve cooperation and coordination and help prepare Kyiv for eventual membership.

바카라 게임 웹사이트�Allies will continue to support Ukraine바카라 게임 웹사이트�s self-defense until Russia stops its war of aggression,바카라 게임 웹사이트� said Jim O바카라 게임 웹사이트�Brien, the top U.S. diplomat for Europe.

The NATO meeting will also address the tensions in the Western Balkans, where there are calls for NATO to increase its military presence in response to concerns that hostility between Serbia and Kosovo could escalate to outright conflict.

Violence between the two has broken out twice in recent months, and Western countries fear that Russia could try to foment trouble in the Balkans to avert attention from the war in Ukraine.

Last week, Albania's prime minister urged NATO to further boost its military forces in Kosovo and secure the country바카라 게임 웹사이트�s borders with Serbia, warning that recent ethnic violence in Kosovo could potentially trigger a wider Balkan conflict. NATO has already strengthened its military presence in Kosovo 바카라 게임 웹사이트� established after the 1999 bombing campaign against Serbia 바카라 게임 웹사이트� with about 1,000 additional troops and heavier weaponry, bringing its deployment there to about 4,500 troops.

Blinken will underscore U.S. and NATO support for democracy and stability in the region, including a commitment to back all countries바카라 게임 웹사이트� aspirations to join the European Union, O바카라 게임 웹사이트�Brien said.

Serbia doesn바카라 게임 웹사이트�t recognize Kosovo바카라 게임 웹사이트�s formal declaration of independence in 2008. Both countries want to join the European Union, which is mediating a dialogue between the former foes. Brussels has warned both that refusal to compromise jeopardizes their chances of joining the bloc.

The NATO ministers will also discuss plans for the alliance바카라 게임 웹사이트�s 75th anniversary summit to be held in Washington in July 2024.

Blinken will return to Israel as the US hopes to see further extensions of the Gaza cease-fire

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