Rabat – Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded today his ninth visit to the Middle East since the outbreak of the war on Gaza, failing to secure a major breakthrough in ceasefire negotiations. Blinken’s latest diplomatic efforts in Egypt and Qatar did not result in a significant advance towards halting the violence in the war-torn enclave.
The top American diplomat emphasized the urgency of reaching a ceasefire and a hostage agreement, stating: “Our message is simple. It’s clear and it’s urgent. We need to get a cease-fire and hostage agreement over the finish line, and we need to do it now. Time is of the essence.”
Blinken noted that Israel has accepted a US-brokered “bridging proposal” aiming to address gaps between the parties. But, Hamas rejected the deal, citing its deviation from the proposal backed by US President Joe Biden in May and endorsed by the UN Security Council.
The urgency of the situation has increased following recent targeted killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Iran and Lebanon, attributed to Israel. These actions, accompanied by vows of retaliation from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, have heightened fears of a broader regional war.
Few specifics have been disclosed about the proposal from the US, Egypt, and Qatar, but Blinken indicated it includes a detailed schedule and locations for Israeli forces withdrawals from Gaza.
Read also: Blinken Calls for Immediate Ceasefire, Urges Hamas to Accept US ‘Bridging Proposal’
However, Hamas has criticized the proposal as a reversal of previous agreements and accused the US of caving to new Israeli pressure. The US has yet to respond to this accusation.
The Palestinian group insists on reverting to the terms of the previous ceasefire proposal, which called for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on maintaining a presence in the strip.
Another point of contention is the status of the Philadelphi Corridor, a crucial strip of land separating Gaza from Egypt. Hamas demands the withdrawal of Israeli forces from this area, while Netanyahu insists on retaining troops to purportedly prevent arms smuggling. This Israeli stance has also faced opposition from Egypt, which has played a mediating role in the war.
