This morning, Secretary of State Tony Blinken is now in Jordan for a gathering of leaders focused on getting more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Earlier, he was in Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken telling reporters that there is a consensus among Netanyahu and other leaders to move forward on a proposed ceasefire deal that was just approved by the U. N. Security Council.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been on a whirlwind trip through the region, starting in Egypt at the beginning of the week and then holding a series of meetings with key Israeli leaders. The Biden administration is optimistic about the Israelis agreeing to the ceasefire proposal, and now the focus is on persuading Hamas to also agree to the terms on the table.
While there have been positive signals from Hamas in response to the U.N. Security Council resolution and the proposed ceasefire, the devil is in the details, as past negotiations have faltered on specifics. Blinken is aware that the key decision-maker on the Hamas side is Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas' military in Gaza.
According to messages reportedly seen by the Wall Street Journal, Sinwar views the conflict as a necessary sacrifice for the Palestinian national cause. He has referenced historical national liberation struggles, suggesting that civilian losses are part of the price to pay for independence.
Blinken acknowledges the challenge of convincing Sinwar to agree to a ceasefire, emphasizing that while others may have influence, the ultimate decision rests with the Hamas leadership in Gaza. The current situation indicates progress towards a ceasefire, but the process is far from over.
