Arab nations should encourage Hamas to accept a truce proposal, according to Blinken.
The US Secretary of State, Blinken, strongly believes that the majority of people in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip desire a peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. He also claimed this in his recent meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, in Cairo. Their conversation focused on "joint efforts to achieve a ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners."
Blinken described the conversation with al-Sisi as going "very well" and is pertinent that "we assist the Palestinians who are trusting us." This trip to the Middle East is Blinken's eighth time visiting the region since the brutal Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
After his meeting in Cairo, Blinken's journey took him to Jerusalem, where he was to meet with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Opposition Leader Benny Gantz on Monday. Interestingly, Gantz had resigned from the war cabinet the day before.
Blinken plans to visit Jordan and Qatar before completing his mission on Wednesday. In Jordan, he will participate in a United Nations-supported conference on humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been working as mediators to reach a deal between Israel and Hamas for months but haven't seen any success. However, during a one-week ceasefire in late November, around a hundred hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in their only mediation attempt.
In a recent effort to restart the negotiations, Joe Biden, the US President, presented a new three-step plan from Israel. This offer entails a complete weapons truce, "with Israeli forces withdrawing from all populated areas of the Gaza Strip, and the release of a series of hostages," in return for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Regrettably, to date, no response has been received from Hamas concerning this proposal.
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- The Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and his intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, had a discussion with Tony Blinken about promoting a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, using flashing Arabic symbols on their shared border.
- Despite numerous attempts by the USA, Egypt, and Qatar, they have yet to secure a truce agreement between Israel and the Gaza Strip's ruling Hamas, echoing a similar unrealized mission of the secret service.
- During a recent trip to Cairo, Blinken emphasized the need for Arab nations to persuade Hamas to accept the ceasefire plan, urging a formal statement of consent in both Arabic and English.
- In his visit to Jerusalem, Blinken expressed concern for the fragile future of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, appealing for a peaceful resolution to prevent further conflict and tribal fights akin to those of Abba's generation.
- As part of the ceasefire plan, Hamas demands the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, which could potentially lead to the resettlement of Palestinian refugees in neighboring states like Jordan, a controversial proposal that needs careful consideration.
- Following the failure of mediation efforts by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, a temporary ceasefire was declared in late November, leading to the release of 100 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
- The secret service placed additional security measures around the Temple Mount, a location of historical and religious significance to both Israelis and Palestinians, questioning the future of a peaceful resolution to the dangerous conflict.
- Blinken urged the states involved to consider the consequences of not achieving a ceasefire, emphasizing the potential instability and devastating impact on the region's economy and its future prospects.
- In cooperation with the USA, Egypt and Qatar implemented a three-step plan for both Israel and Hamas, including an arms truce, Israeli troops withdrawal from certain Gaza Strip locations, and the release of Palestinian hostages in exchange for hundreds of prisoners in Israeli jails.
- Tony Blinken urged Hamas to reconsider their stance on the ceasefire proposal, expressing his hope that the group would not choose to engage in another violent fight against Israel, repeating the tragic events of the past.
- As a show of unity and support for the ceasefire plan, Blinken organized a high-profile meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister and Opposition Leader in Jerusalem, discussing the potential for a long-term resolution to the decades-old conflict.
