The prime minister of Israel, who is facing pressure both domestically and internationally to secure a ceasefire deal with Hamas, accused the militants of being stubborn in the Gaza truce negotiations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel for his ninth visit to the Middle East since the Gaza war started. He is set to meet with Israeli leaders in an effort to finalize a deal that could prevent further escalation of the conflict. Blinken will also travel to Cairo to resume ceasefire talks in the coming days.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Sunday that the pressure needs to be on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. He stated that Hamas has been obstinate and did not even send a representative to the talks in Doha. Netanyahu emphasized that the pressure should be on Hamas and its leader Yahya Sinwar rather than the Israeli government. Jordan, hostage supporters, and Hamas have all called for pressure on Netanyahu to reach an agreement, despite opposition from far-right members of his governing coalition.
Ahead of Blinken’s visit, the foreign ministers of Britain and France also emphasized the urgency of a Gaza deal. In late May, US President Joe Biden proposed a framework endorsed by the UN Security Council that would freeze fighting for six weeks and facilitate the exchange of hostages and prisoners. However, Hamas called for the immediate implementation of the proposal rather than engaging in further negotiations.
While there has been reported progress in the truce talks, with Israeli negotiators expressing cautious optimism, previous claims of nearing a deal have been proven wrong. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with Israeli evacuation orders reducing the safe zone and leaving displaced Palestinians with limited resources. The violence has not only continued in Gaza but also in the West Bank and Lebanon, where Israeli forces and Hezbollah have engaged in daily fire exchanges.
The situation remains tense, with ongoing casualties reported in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Iran and its allies have promised retaliation for recent deaths of militant leaders. Blinken will seek to conclude a ceasefire agreement and secure the release of hostages during his visit to Israel. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club noted an increase in Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces since the Gaza war began. Calls for pressure on the government to end the war and secure the release of hostages have been voiced in Israel.
Overall, efforts towards a ceasefire continue amid ongoing violence and tensions in the region. The situation remains precarious, with a need for urgent action to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
