US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday that Israel has agreed to a proposal aimed at resolving differences in ceasefire negotiations, with the next crucial step being Hamas's acceptance of the proposal. Further discussions are anticipated later this week.
Blinken stated during a press conference in Tel Aviv, “The next significant statement is for Hamas to agree, followed by a gathering of expert negotiators in the coming days to establish clear guidelines for implementing the agreement.” Despite Prime Minister Netanyahu's endorsement of the bridging proposal, substantial obstacles remain before a final agreement can be achieved. Hamas has yet to accept the proposal, and negotiators are still addressing the specific details necessary for the agreement's implementation. They are also focused on creating “clear understandings on how the various parties will fulfill their commitments,” according to the top US diplomat. Prior to his meetings with Israeli officials on Monday, Blinken remarked that the effort to finalize a ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza has reached a “decisive moment.” He is scheduled to visit Egypt and Qatar on Tuesday. Blinken emphasized, “This is likely the best, and perhaps the last, chance to secure the release of hostages, establish a ceasefire, and set everyone on a path toward lasting peace and security,” during remarks made alongside Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv. “It is essential for all parties to agree and to avoid seeking excuses for disagreement,” Blinken urged. “Now is the time to finalize this process and ensure that no actions are taken that could hinder progress.”During his press conference, Blinken emphasized the critical nature of the current situation, stating that “intervening events may arise that could complicate matters further, if not render them unmanageable.”
He remarked, “We have witnessed this throughout the process, highlighting the pressing urgency of the present moment.”
The announcement from Blinken and the Israeli prime minister’s office regarding Israel's acceptance of the bridging proposal came after a three-hour discussion between the US Secretary of State and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem earlier that day. Both parties characterized the meeting as productive. Netanyahu pledged to dispatch senior negotiators to finalize the process in either Qatar or Egypt, according to Blinken.
The specifics of the “bridging proposal” remain unclear. It was introduced last week by the US, with backing from Qatar and Egypt, following two days of intense negotiations in Doha. Mediators have intensified their efforts as the region prepares for a potential Iranian strike on Israel, amidst reports that the death toll in Gaza has reached 40,000 since October—a grim statistic that highlights ten months of suffering, malnutrition, and despair in the Palestinian territory during Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
On Sunday night, Hamas and Netanyahu exchanged accusations, indicating that a resolution may still be distant. Hamas claimed it had turned down the proposal.
According to Hamas, the latest proposal lacked a permanent ceasefire and imposed new conditions regarding prisoner exchanges, among other matters.
The group accused Netanyahu of “hindering” the negotiation process and reiterated its commitment to a three-phase plan proposed by US President Joe Biden, which would entail the release of hostages from Gaza, a “full and complete ceasefire,” and the liberation of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. They urged mediators to “force the occupation to implement” this plan.
In response, Netanyahu asserted that Israel would not concede to Hamas’s demand to end the conflict in Gaza as a precondition.
The Prime Minister has emphasized the importance of this essential demand, which is crucial for fulfilling the objectives of the conflict, noting that Hamas has altered its stance, according to a statement from his office released on Sunday. He will persist in efforts to negotiate a deal that aims to maximize the number of hostages who are alive while also ensuring that all war objectives are met.
During a news conference on Monday, Blinken remarked that he could not “speculate on exactly what Hamas’s intentions are,” but anticipated gaining further insights from discussions with officials from Egypt and Qatar on Tuesday.
“We’ve observed public statements, but past public statements have not always accurately represented Hamas’s position,” he noted.
Additional significant points of contention in the negotiations include Israel's demand for control over the Gaza-Egypt border, the authority to determine which Palestinian prisoners are released, and measures to prevent the transfer of armed individuals from southern Gaza to the northern region.