U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has discussed efforts to free hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza.

This came as he met Thursday with members of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet on Thursday, February 8, 2024.

Blinken’s meeting came a day after Netanyahu rejected Hamas’s demands for a truce and prisoner-captive swap.

At the start of his meeting with former military chiefs; Benny Gantz and Gabi Eisenkot, Blinken said that the focus would be on “the hostages and the strong desire that we both have to see them returned to their families, the work that’s being done to that end.”

“The most urgent issue is of course to find ways to bring back the hostages,” Gantz told Blinken.

He added, “That being done, many things can be achieved.”

Blinken said he would also provide updates from meetings he’s had elsewhere in the region on a trip that has included stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and the West Bank.

Gantz told Blinken that the most urgent issue is finding ways to bring back the hostages.

The meetings come as Israel and Hamas consider a proposal for a new temporary cease-fire that would include a pause in fighting and the release of hostages from Gaza.

Blinken said Wednesday that the response from Hamas leaders to a plan drafted by U.S., Egyptian, Qatari and Israeli officials contained “clear nonstarters,” but that there was room for ongoing negotiations.

Earlier, the Israeli military stated that the release of captives cannot happen without “military pressure.”

The military posted an excerpt from Army Chief Herzi Halevi‘s situational assessment in which he said that “dismantling Hamas” cannot be done in a short period.

He described it as “peeling off layers.”

Halevi stated that the more Hamas fighters and commanders killed and infrastructure destroyed, the closer the military will be to achieving the “important goal” of bringing back the captives.

“I hope all of them, we are making a big effort on this. It won’t happen without military pressure,” Halevi was quoted as saying.

Separately, Russia stated its efforts in ensuring captive exchange between Israel and Hamas.

Speaking to members of Russia’s Jewish community, President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow had achieved “specific results” in its diplomatic efforts to secure the release of captives held by Hamas in Gaza.

Russian news agencies reported that Putin told Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Berel Lazar, and the Head of the Federation of Jewish Communities, Alexander Boroda, that Moscow has made headway using its contacts within Hamas’s political wing.

He was quoted as saying that “Russia has been doing everything to help people who became hostages.”

“As is known, our Foreign Ministry worked through the political wing of Hamas and, on the whole, there have been specific results,” Putin said without elaborating further.

Russia has previously criticised the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza and stated its support for Palestinian statehood.

Former U.S Secretary Of State Calls For Netanyahu’s Ouster

Meanwhile, former U.S Secretary of State and Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “absolutely needs to go” for his handling of Israel’s war on Gaza.

“Netanyahu should go. He is not a trustworthy leader. It was on his watch that the [October 7] attack happened,” Clinton told a news agency.

She added, “He needs to go, and if he’s an obstacle to a ceasefire, if he’s an obstacle to exploring what’s to be done the day after, he absolutely needs to go.”

Clinton, however, also defended Israel’s conduct in its war on Gaza, saying Hamas started the conflict with its attack on Israel on October 7.

“What do you do with an aggressor? You have to stop them,” she said.

When asked about President Joe Biden’s relationship with Netanyahu, Clinton remarked that it is “clear that Biden is doing everything he can to influence Netanyahu.”