Jun 11 Blinken again urges Hamas to accept cease-fire plan strongly endorsed by UN Security Council By Matthew Lee, Abby Sewell, Associated Press Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the U.N. Security Council’s vote in favor of a U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza has made it clear that the world supports the plan. Continue reading
Jun 10 Watch 3:34 Blinken urges Israel and Hamas to accept UN-endorsed cease-fire, hostage release agreement By Nick Schifrin, Zeba Warsi, Mekhi Hill Secretary of State Blinken returned to the Middle East on Monday. He's pressing leaders to accept an Israeli proposal for a hostage and Gaza cease-fire deal that received a vote of confidence today in the United Nations Security Council. It… Continue watching
Jun 10 Watch 7:52 Parents of U.S.-Israeli citizen held by Hamas describe 8 months of hoping for his release By Amna Nawaz, Zeba Warsi, Dan Sagalyn While the rescue of four Israeli hostages is great news for some, there are still about 120 captives remaining in Gaza. One of them is Omer Neutra, a 22-year-old American and Israeli citizen who was serving as an IDF tank… Continue watching
Jun 10 Blinken urges Hamas to accept cease-fire proposal, meets with Netanyahu in Israel By Matthew Lee, Associated Press “If you want a cease-fire, press Hamas to say ‘yes,’” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters before leaving Cairo on the trip that also will take him to Jordan and Qatar. Continue reading
Jun 10 Blinken returns to the Middle East as cease-fire deal hangs in the balance By Matthew Lee, Associated Press With no firm response yet from Hamas to the proposal they received 10 days ago, Blinken on Monday started his eighth urgent diplomatic mission to the region since the conflict began in October. Continue reading
Jun 07 Blinken to push cease-fire proposal in 8th urgent Mideast trip since Israel’s war in Gaza erupted By Matthew Lee, Associated Press Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East on his eighth diplomatic mission to the region since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza began in October. Continue reading
May 29 WATCH: Blinken holds news conference with Moldova’s Maia Sandu as concerns rise about Russia By Matthew Lee, Associated Press Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Moldovan President Maia Sandu to reaffirm U.S. backing for Moldova's progress on joining the European Union, the State Department said. Continue reading
May 21 WATCH: Protesters against Israel’s war in Gaza interrupt Blinken repeatedly in the Senate By Matthew Lee, Associated Press Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denounced the chief prosecutor of the world's top war crimes court for seeking the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Continue reading
May 15 State Department removes Cuba from short list of countries deemed uncooperative on counterterrorism By Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press The State Department said that Cuban and U.S. law enforcement were again working together on counterterrorism and other efforts. The State Department had cited Cuba as a "not fully cooperating country" in 2022. Continue reading
May 14 Blinken says U.S. arms are helping Ukraine as nation faces a new Russian offensive By Matthew Lee, Associated Press Analysts have called this moment one of the most dangerous for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Continue reading