Blinken plans to advocate for a Gaza truce personally.
President Biden is trying to put an end to the conflict in Gaza, but neither Israel nor Hamas have given their approval yet. So, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, will make a trip to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Qatar soon to work out a settlement for a ceasefire in the Gaza War. Blinken's travel plans include visits to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Qatar from Monday to Wednesday, as per his department's updates. The main topic of discussion is expected to be the US president's plan to stop the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip.
The blueprint encompasses more than just the stoppage of violence and the freeing of hostages from the grip of Islamist groups in the Gaza Strip; it also involves the reconstruction of this region controlled by terrorists and heatly destroyed by Israeli attacks. The State Department highlighted that Blinken would be discussing the necessity of finalizing the peace plan, leading to the release of all hostages.
For several weeks, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been striving to strike a deal between Israel and Hamas, aiming to negotiate a truce in the Gaza Strip and a swap of hostages being held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners kept in Israeli prisons. On Thursday, the "Wall Street Journal" revealed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar doesn't intend to accept a deal with Israel that would also necessitate yielding his terrorist group's weapons. Blinken is currently in France with Biden, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings during World War II.
"It's crucial for Hamas to accept this latest offer"
Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesperson, stated that Blinken would reinforce the importance of Hamas agreeing to the current offer during the conversations. He will also explore with the partners how this latest proposal would benefit both Israelis and Palestinians. Stressing on the need for the ceasefire, Blinken will emphasize that the current plan will relieve suffering throughout the Gaza Strip, allow for a considerable increase in humanitarian aid, and allow Palestinians to retun to their homes.
The plan closely resembles a proposal Hamas had agreed to last month, according to Miller. Additionally, the possibility of achieving peace along the Israeli-Lebanon border, where tensions with the Islamist Hezbollah militia are escalating, could be under consideration.
