US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Arrives in Israel to Push for Ceasefire and Hostage-Release Deal in Gaza
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel in his latest effort to push for a ceasefire and hostage-release deal in Gaza. This marks his ninth trip to the region since the war began in October.
The US recently presented a modified proposal aimed at bridging long-standing gaps between the two sides. Talks resumed in Doha last week, and both the US and Israel have expressed optimism about reaching a deal. However, Hamas has dismissed suggestions of progress as an “illusion.”
One of the key differences in negotiations is whether Israeli troops will be required to fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip, as Hamas insists. A Hamas source has indicated that the proposals include the IDF maintaining a reduced presence along the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt.
Israeli sources, on the other hand, have suggested that other procedures along the border could compensate for an Israeli withdrawal from the area in the first phase of the deal.
The conflict began when the Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7. Since then, more than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
A ceasefire deal agreed upon in November saw Hamas release 105 hostages in return for a week-long ceasefire and the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. However, Israel states that 111 hostages are still being held, with 39 presumed dead.
US President Joe Biden has expressed optimism about reaching a deal, stating that “we are closer than we have ever been.” However, previous optimism during months of on-off talks has proven unfounded.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized the need to uphold certain principles for Israel’s security during negotiations. He accused Hamas of being “obstinate” and called for further pressure to be applied on the militant group.
Despite ongoing efforts, a senior Hamas official has expressed disappointment in the progress of negotiations, stating that “there has been no progress.”
The original deal outlined by President Biden, based on Israel’s 27 May proposal, includes three phases aimed at achieving a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Hamas-run health authority in Gaza has reported that Israeli air strikes killed at least 21 people, including six children, on Sunday. The IDF stated that it destroyed rocket launchers in Khan Younis and killed 20 Palestinians in response to attacks on Israel.
