Blinken Touches Down in Israel for Gaza Ceasefire Push

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has landed in Israel to continue his efforts to secure a ceasefire and a hostage-release agreement in Gaza.

This marks his ninth visit to the region since the conflict erupted in October.

The trip follows a revised U.S. proposal aimed at bridging the longstanding divides between Israel and Hamas.

Optimism has been cautiously shared by both the U.S. and Israel since negotiations resumed in Doha last week.

However, Hamas has dismissed any notion of progress as an “illusion.” Central to the disagreement is whether Israeli forces will fully withdraw from Gaza, a demand Hamas insists upon.

A source within Hamas revealed to Saudi media that the current proposals allow for a limited Israeli presence along the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip bordering Egypt.

Conversely, Israeli officials suggested to the *Times of Israel* that alternative measures along the border might suffice, permitting an Israeli withdrawal from that area during the deal’s initial phase.

This latest diplomatic push comes in the wake of Israel’s military offensive launched in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 251 hostages.

The conflict has since claimed over 40,000 lives in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

A previous ceasefire agreement in November led to the release of 105 hostages by Hamas in exchange for a week-long ceasefire and the liberation of about 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

Israel asserts that 111 hostages remain in Hamas custody, with 39 presumed dead.

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President Joe Biden, speaking earlier this week, expressed cautious optimism, stating, “We are closer than we have ever been” to a deal.

Despite this, past expressions of hope have often been premature.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, acknowledged the complexity of the ongoing negotiations aimed at securing the hostages’ return.

He emphasized the importance of balancing flexibility with Israel’s security needs, stating, “There are things we can be flexible about, and there are things we cannot be flexible about, and we insist on them. We know very well how to differentiate between the two.”

Netanyahu also criticized Hamas for its “obstinate” stance in the talks, calling for increased pressure on the militant group.

A senior Hamas official, on Saturday, saying, “What we have received from the mediators is very disappointing. There has been no progress.”

Meanwhile, the conflict on the ground persists. The Hamas-run health authority in Gaza reported that Israeli airstrikes killed at least 21 people, including six children, on Sunday.

The IDF, for its part, announced the destruction of rocket launchers in Khan Younis, a southern Gaza city that has seen fierce battles in recent weeks, resulting in the deaths of 20 Palestinians.

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