U.S. Secretary Blinken said Israel’s Netanyahu accepted a U.S. ceasefire proposal for Gaza, urging Hamas to agree.
After meetings with Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, Blinken stated this may be the last chance for a deal.
Talks in Qatar paused without a ceasefire deal, but are expected to resume this week based on a U.S. proposal.
Blinken’s visit coincides with Biden facing election-year pressure amid pro-Palestinian protests and concerns about key voter groups.
However, with Hamas resuming suicide bombings and Israeli strikes killing 30 Palestinians, fears of a broader war escalate.
“In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to me that Israel accepts the bridging proposal – that he supports it,” Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.
“It’s now incumbent on Hamas to do the same, and then the parties, with the help of the mediators – the United States, Egypt and Qatar – have to come together and complete the process of reaching clear understandings about how they’ll implement the commitments that they’ve made under this agreement.”
Challenges to Peace: Israel-Hamas Conflict Stalls Amid Disagreements and Ongoing Violence
Despite U.S. optimism and Netanyahu’s positive remarks, both Israel and Hamas indicate that reaching a deal will be challenging.
Months of talks have repeated the same issues: Israel seeks Hamas’s destruction, while Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire.
Disagreements persist over Israel’s Gaza presence, Palestinian movement, and the identity and number of prisoners in a swap.
Hamas officials accused Washington of supporting Israel.
“When Blinken says that the Israelis agreed and then the Israelis say that there is an updated proposal, this means that the Americans are subject to Israeli pressure and not the other way around. We believe that it is a manoeuvre that gives the Israelis more time,” senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan.
The Gaza war started on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli communities, killing 1,200 and taking 250 hostages.
Israel’s military has devastated the Palestinian enclave, displacing 2.3 million people, causing widespread hunger, disease, and over 40,000 deaths.
Blinken’s Middle East Diplomacy: Ceasefire Talks, Hostage Protests, and Regional Tensions
On his ninth regional trip, Blinken met Israeli leaders and Defence Minister Gallant, and will soon visit Egypt and Qatar.
Egyptian security sources stated that Cairo talks depend on agreeing to a security mechanism for the Philadelphia Corridor, with a six-month international presence proposal from the U.S.
In Israel, captive families who have previously protested for a solution came out again on Monday.
“Don’t sacrifice my daughter and the dozens of helpless hostages,” said Ayelet Levy-Shachar on Kan Radio. Her daughter Naama, 20, was captured at an army base.
Some at a protest in Tel Aviv held U.S. flags and signs saying “Hostage deal now,” “Hey Joe! Mr Biden, help us save them,” and “They have no time.”
Palestinians in Gaza expressed skepticism that Blinken’s visit would result in a ceasefire.
“They are lying just to destroy us more and more. Kill us and kill our children, starve us and make us homeless. Blinken is useless, his visit will harm the Palestinian people,” said Hanan Abu Hamid, who was displaced from her home in Rafah.
The conflict has unsettled the Middle East, causing border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, and risking broader escalation involving major powers.
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