U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Monday that the time is ripe to reach a Gaza cease-fire agreement that would secure the release of hostages held by Hamas and alleviate the suffering of Palestinians after a grueling 10 months of conflict in Gaza.
Blinken embarked on his ninth urgent mission to the Middle East since the onset of the conflict, following recent optimism from mediators, including the U.S., that a deal was within reach. However, Hamas has expressed discontent with the latest proposal, while Israel has indicated areas where it is unwilling to compromise.
This visit, just before new talks planned for this week in Egypt, comes amid concerns that the conflict could escalate into a broader regional war following the deaths of top militant commanders in Lebanon, which Iran attributed to Israel.
“This is a crucial moment, perhaps the best, and maybe the last chance to bring the hostages home, agree on a cease-fire, and set everyone on a path towards lasting peace and security,” Blinken stated as he commenced discussions with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv.
“It is also crucial to ensure that no actions are taken that could derail this process,” he added, alluding to Iran. “We are working to prevent any escalation, provocations, or actions that could hinder the conclusion of this deal or potentially escalate the conflict further.”
Herzog expressed gratitude to Blinken for the support extended by the Biden administration to Israel and highlighted a recent spate of attacks against Israelis in the past 24 hours.
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Mediators are scheduled to reconvene in Cairo this week to solidify a cease-fire. Blinken will head to Egypt on Tuesday after concluding his visit to Israel with meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant later on Monday.
The conflict began on Oct. 7 when Hamas-led militants invaded Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of about 250. Approximately 110 hostages are believed to still be in Gaza, with Israeli authorities confirming that about a third of them are deceased. Over 100 hostages were released in November during a weeklong cease-fire.
Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza has led to the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians, as per local health authorities, and caused extensive destruction across the territory.
Recent progress has been reported by the three mediating countries – Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. – on a proposed cease-fire deal where Israel would halt most military operations in Gaza and release some Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages’ release.
Just before Blinken’s arrival in Tel Aviv on Sunday, Netanyahu mentioned during a Cabinet meeting that there are areas where Israel can be flexible and some where it cannot. “We are engaged in negotiations and not a one-sided scenario,” he emphasized.
The evolving proposal outlines a three-phase process in which Hamas would release all hostages from the Oct. 7 attack. In return, Israel would withdraw its forces from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas has accused Israel of introducing new demands related to maintaining a military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border and a certain territorial line within Gaza. Israel has asserted that these are not new demands but clarifications from a previous proposal.
The U.S. has reportedly put forward proposals to bridge the remaining gaps between the Israeli and Hamas stances. Formal responses to the U.S. outline are anticipated this week and could lead to a cease-fire declaration unless the talks fail, as has happened with previous attempts.
Late on Sunday, Hamas issued a statement criticizing Netanyahu for imposing new conditions that hinder a deal, accusing him of prolonging the conflict. The group asserted that the latest offer from the mediators favored Israel.
Blinken urged both sides on Monday to seize this opportunity and reach an agreement. “It is time for everyone to agree and not find reasons to disagree,” he emphasized.
More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry
An Israeli delegation engaged in talks with Egyptian officials as part of the peace efforts, an Egyptian official revealed on Monday.
The extended meeting on Sunday focused on the Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border but did not yield a breakthrough, as per the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing negotiations.
The official noted that Israel continues to insist on retaining control over the border and the east-west route dividing Gaza, with no new developments arising from the meeting with the delegation.
