“This is a decisive moment — probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire, and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security,” Blinken stated
DOHA: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to Egypt for critical talks on a potential Gaza ceasefire following Israel’s acceptance of a US “bridging proposal.” This visit, scheduled for Tuesday, is part of Blinken’s ninth trip to the Middle East since the October 7 Hamas attack, reflecting heightened diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict.
Blinken will meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in El Alamein, a Mediterranean city historically known for its World War II battle. Afterward, he will travel to Doha for discussions with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. Both Egypt and Qatar are playing pivotal roles in mediating the ceasefire, alongside the United States, which proposed a new framework last week. On Monday, Blinken described his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “very constructive,” revealing that Israel had agreed to the US proposal.
However, Hamas has urged the mediators to adhere to a ceasefire framework proposed by US President Joe Biden in late May, accusing the current proposal of favoring Netanyahu’s conditions and placing the onus for failure on him. “This is a decisive moment — probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire, and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security,” Blinken stated. The Secretary of State highlighted the urgency of the situation, as prolonged negotiations have yet to yield an agreement.
Diplomats fear that delays could escalate the conflict further, potentially involving regional actors such as Iran and Hezbollah. Despite months of on-again, off-again talks, the parties have yet to reach a comprehensive truce. Israel and Hamas have exchanged accusations over who is responsible for the stalled negotiations. Hamas has called for a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Netanyahu aims to secure the release of hostages and maintain strategic positions in Gaza.
In the US, the Biden administration faces mounting domestic pressure, reflected in pro-Palestinian protests outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. President Biden acknowledged the protests, emphasizing the high civilian toll on both sides. The proposed Biden framework aims to halt fighting for six weeks, facilitating the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.
- #GazaCeasefire,
- #BlinkenMiddleEast,
- #DiplomaticEfforts,
- #USBridgingProposal,
- #MiddleEastConflict,
- #EgyptQatarMediation,
- #HamasCeasefire,
- #HostageRelease,
- #BidenFramework,
- #USForeignPolicy,
