US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Israel has accepted a proposal aimed at bridging differences blocking a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, and urged Hamas to follow suit. Blinken made this announcement after a two and a half hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who confirmed that Israel supports the bridging proposal. However, Blinken did not elaborate on whether the proposal addresses Israel’s demands for control over two strategic corridors inside Gaza, which Hamas has deemed non-negotiable.
The US, Egypt, and Qatar have been attempting to broker an agreement for months, but the talks have repeatedly stalled. The current proposal calls for a three-phase process in which Hamas would release all hostages abducted during its October 7th attack, while Israel would withdraw its forces from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the proposal, citing new demands made by Israel, including maintaining a military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent arms smuggling and along a line bisecting the territory to search Palestinians returning to their homes in the north.
Israel has maintained that these demands are not new, but rather clarifications of a previous proposal. The US has presented proposals aimed at bridging the gaps remaining between the Israeli and Hamas positions, and formal responses are expected this week, which could lead to a ceasefire declaration unless the talks stall.
Blinken emphasized that it is crucial for both sides to take this opportunity to reach a deal, stating that “it is time for everyone to get to ‘yes’ and to not look for any excuses to say ‘no’.” The US Secretary of State also expressed his concerns about the risk of escalation and the importance of ensuring that no actions are taken that could derail the process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Image via Getty)
The Gaza conflict began on October 7th when Hamas-led militants broke into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting around 250 others. Since then, the war has claimed the lives of over 40,000 Palestinians and devastated much of the territory. Ahead of new talks expected to take place in Egypt this week, Blinken warned that the conflict could widen into a deeper regional war following the targeted killing of two top militants in Lebanon and Iran attributed to Israel.
Netanyahu reiterated that Israel is willing to negotiate, but emphasized that there are areas where it cannot compromise. Hamas, on the other hand, accused Israel of wanting to prolong the war and of adding new conditions that cannot be accepted. The mediators will meet again this week in Cairo to try to cement a ceasefire, and Blinken is expected to travel to Egypt on Tuesday for meetings in the Mediterranean city of el-Alamein.
As tensions remain high, both sides will need to make concessions to achieve a peaceful resolution. The success of the ongoing negotiations will depend on Israel’s willingness to compromise on its demands and Hamas’s willingness to release the remaining hostages. If a deal is reached, it could potentially bring an end to the devastating conflict and pave the way for a more sustainable peace in the region.
