TEL AVIV: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urged Israel and Hamas not to derail the truce talks that he said may be a “last opportunity” to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Blinken, who met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasized that the current moment may represent the best and possibly final opportunity to achieve a ceasefire and facilitate the return of hostages. The US top diplomat said he was back in Israel “to get this agreement to the line and ultimately over the line”.
“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 said in Tel Aviv.
Following his meetings in Israel, Blinken is set to travel to Cairo on Tuesday to resume ceasefire talks, where talks with Qatari and Egyptian mediators are expected to continue. Despite these efforts, negotiations have stalled as both Israel and Hamas continue to blame each other for the delays.
“We’re working to make sure that there is no escalation, that there are no provocations, that there are no actions that in any way could move us away from getting this deal over the line,” Blinken added. He urged all parties to avoid actions that could derail the fragile negotiation process.
After the Qatar meeting, the United States had submitted what mediators called a “bridging proposal”, which Hamas on Sunday said “responds to Netanyahu’s conditions” and includes terms that the Palestinian group would not accept.
Hamas insisted on “a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip”, saying Netanyahu wanted to keep Israeli forces at several strategic locations. Netanyahu was “fully responsible for thwarting the efforts of the mediators”, the Palestinian movement said in a statement.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire have been ongoing for months, but recent events have intensified the stakes. The late July killings of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza have added pressure to the negotiations. The humanitarian crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip has worsened, with reports of widespread destruction and a dire need for aid amid ongoing Israeli bombardments.
Hamas has called for the implementation of a framework proposed by US President Joe Biden in late May, which outlines a plan for a temporary freeze in Israeli bombardment, the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and the provision of humanitarian aid. However, Hamas has accused Israel of thwarting progress by insisting on maintaining forces in strategic locations within Gaza.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has countered by accusing Hamas of being obstinate and failing to engage in constructive dialogue. Netanyahu’s governing coalition, which includes far-right members opposed to any truce, adds complexity to the negotiation dynamics. Despite this, US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators have reported some progress.
Meanwhile, the conflict has extended beyond Gaza, with recent exchanges of fire occurring along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli military positions, leading to further escalation. The Israeli military reported strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in response.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has continued its operations in the besieged Gaza Strip. Since October 7, Israeli bombardments have killed at least 40,139 Palestinians, mostly women and children, the territory’s health ministry reported.
The violence has also affected journalists; the Committee to Protect Journalists has reported the deaths of over 100 Palestinian media workers since the beginning of the conflict. On Sunday, Gazan photojournalist Ibrahim Muhareb was killed, and his funeral was marked by the presence of his “PRESS” vest.
