On Monday (August 19), U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that the efforts to achieve a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange in Gaza have reached a “decisive moment.” He urged Israel and Hamas to reach a long-delayed ceasefire agreement.
Hamas expressed skepticism about the possibility of reaching an agreement. Talks held in Qatar last week failed to yield a breakthrough, but negotiations are set to resume this week based on the U.S.’s bridging proposal.
Blinken met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday before traveling to Jerusalem to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to Reuters, before his meeting with Herzog, Blinken told reporters, “This is a decisive moment, perhaps the best opportunity, perhaps the last opportunity, to get hostages home, achieve a ceasefire, and set everyone on a path towards lasting peace and security.”
The negotiations over the past few months have revolved around the same issues, with Israel insisting that only by destroying Hamas, both as a military and political force, can the war end, while Hamas asserts it will only accept a permanent ceasefire, not a temporary one.
U.S. officials are optimistic about the prospects of the bridging proposal. However, on Sunday night, Hamas and Netanyahu traded accusations, suggesting that an agreement may still be far off.
Hamas stated that the latest proposal put forth by mediators after discussions in Doha did not include a permanent ceasefire and introduced new conditions regarding issues such as prisoner exchange.
The organization accused Netanyahu of “obstructing” the agreement and reiterated the desire to implement the three-stage proposal put forward by U.S. President Biden, which includes releasing Gaza hostages, a “comprehensive and thorough ceasefire,” and freeing Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel. Hamas called on mediators to “force the occupying state to execute” the plan.
Netanyahu countered by saying Israel will not “succumb to Hamas’s demands” and that negotiations, not unilateral concessions, are taking place.
“The Prime Minister strongly insists on this basic demand, which is crucial to achieving the objectives of the war, as Hamas has changed its position,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on Sunday. “The Prime Minister will continue to push for an agreement, maximizing the number of surviving hostages and ensuring all war objectives can be achieved.”
President Herzog echoed Netanyahu’s statement, attributing the lack of a finalized agreement to Hamas. He said, “People must understand that the problem began with Hamas’s refusal to negotiate.”
The Gaza conflict began on October 7 last year when Hamas militants crossed the border and attacked Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping approximately 250 hostages.
This conflict has plunged the entire Middle East region into tension, sparking months-long border clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, threatening further escalation.
Blinken cautioned against any provocation. “Now is also the time to ensure that no steps are taken that could disrupt this process, so we are working to ensure there is no escalation, no provocation.”
This is Blinken’s ninth visit to the region since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 last year. He stated that his visit to Israel was “part of intensive diplomatic efforts under President Biden’s direction to try to reach and ultimately pass an agreement.”
After two days of high-risk negotiations in Doha involving the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, a new ceasefire plan was put forward last Friday. The death toll in Gaza since October is reported to have reached 40,000.
President Biden expressed belief on Sunday that an agreement is still possible.
“We won’t give up,” Biden told reporters.
Israeli President also conveyed optimism, stating, “We remain hopeful and believe that under the guidance of mediators, we can make progress in negotiations.”
Just as Blinken arrived in Israel on Sunday, an explosion occurred in Tel Aviv, with Israeli officials claiming it was a terrorist attack. The Hamas armed forces Al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Residents reported that Israeli military conducted deeper military operations in the Khan Younis area of Gaza on Monday.
The Israeli military stated that unmanned drones from Hezbollah attacked areas near the northern border with Lebanon on Monday. After meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken was scheduled to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.