WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday asked Hamas to accept an “immediate ceasefire” with Israel as the Palestinian resistance group’s delegation met Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Cairo.
During a meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Washington, Blinken emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire agreement to bring an end to the ongoing hostilities and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“We have an opportunity for an immediate ceasefire that can bring hostages home, that can dramatically increase the amount of humanitarian aid getting to Palestinians who so desperately need it, and can also set the conditions for an enduring resolution,” Blinken asserted.
He underscored the crucial role of Hamas in making decisions regarding their readiness to engage in a ceasefire with Israel, highlighting the potential for a cessation of Israeli violence to pave the way for a sustainable peace agreement.
Prime Minister Al-Thani, a key mediator in the ceasefire negotiations, reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to facilitating a peaceful resolution and expressed determination to overcome challenges hindering the progress towards peace.
“Despite whoever is trying to undermine the efforts of bringing peace, we want to bring peace, we want to see an end of the humanitarian suffering, we want to see the hostages back with their families,” Al-Thani said.
Blinken Urges Israel to Allow Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
Blinken also urged Israel to enhance efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where dire warnings of famine have emerged amid the escalating conflict.
“Israel has to maximize every possible means, every possible method, of getting assistance to people who need it,” Blinken insisted, emphasizing the imperative of ensuring access to aid for the vulnerable population in Gaza.
He called on Israel to increase the number of crossings into Gaza and to facilitate the unhindered distribution of aid to those in need, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the dire humanitarian situation.
“We will continue to press that every single day because the situation as it stands is simply not acceptable,” Blinken asserted, underscoring the necessity of concerted international efforts to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the midst of the conflict.
