US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel for last-minute negotiations aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Despite initial optimism from international mediators, signals from Israeli and Hamas officials suggest that a breakthrough may still be elusive.
Blinken's visit to Tel Aviv on Sunday is part of Washington's renewed efforts to broker peace in the ten-month-old conflict, which has intensified following the recent assassinations of a top Hezbollah commander and Hamas political chief, Ismail Haniyeh.
The US aims to secure a ceasefire to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and deter potential retaliatory actions from Iran and Hezbollah, which could exacerbate the conflict. The State Department has outlined that Blinken's primary mission is to "conclude the agreement for a ceasefire and the release of hostages and detainees" during his tenth visit to the region since the outbreak of hostilities following Hamas's attack on October 7.
During his visit, Blinken is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday before traveling to Egypt. Optimism had been high after talks in Doha, Qatar, last week, where the US, Qatar, and Egypt announced a "bridging proposal." Negotiations are set to continue in Cairo later this week.
The US hopes to announce a deal at the Cairo summit, especially with the upcoming US elections in November. However, Hamas has downplayed the progress, calling the notion of an imminent deal an "illusion."
On Sunday evening, Hamas criticized the new proposal for being too aligned with Netanyahu's position. "We hold Netanyahu fully responsible for thwarting the mediators’ efforts, delaying the agreement, and for the lives of his prisoners who are exposed to the same danger as our people due to his ongoing aggression," a Hamas statement read.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, insisted that pressure should be directed at Hamas and its leader Yahya Sinwar, noting that Hamas had not even sent a representative to the Doha talks. Israeli officials have expressed cautious optimism, acknowledging the need for flexibility in negotiations.
"We are conducting negotiations, not just giving in," Netanyahu stated at a cabinet meeting. "There are principles vital for Israel's security that we must uphold."
The proposed ceasefire plan, endorsed by President Biden and the UN Security Council, involves an initial six-week truce, the release of some Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. Unlike a previous week-long truce that collapsed, this ceasefire would be indefinitely extendable, allowing for further negotiations without a return to hostilities.
Hamas, however, has objected to new Israeli demands, including a permanent Israeli military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border and the Netzarim corridor, intended to prevent rearmament by militias. Hamas insists on a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza as a prerequisite for ending the war.
Critics have accused Netanyahu of stalling for political gain, but Israeli media reported that he was set to review the non-negotiable aspects of Israel's position with his team on Sunday. Egyptian and Israeli military officials are expected to meet next week to discuss a withdrawal mechanism from Rafah, Gaza's main link to the outside world, where humanitarian issues have been prevalent.
Despite talks of a ceasefire, violence continues in Gaza. Israeli strikes killed 28 people, including a woman and her six children, on Sunday. In Tel Aviv, a bomb explosion killed one person and injured another, further escalating tensions.
The conflict has seen significant casualties, with over 1,200 Israelis killed in the initial Hamas invasion and more than 40,000 deaths reported in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with the vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million residents displaced.
Hezbollah and Iran's allies in the region have indicated they will cease attacks once the Gaza war ends. The long-standing shadow war between Israel and Iran came into the open in April when Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian commanders in Damascus, though many were intercepted.
The international community remains hopeful for a resolution, but the path to peace is fraught with complexities and deeply rooted tensions.
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