US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged partners in the Middle East to apply pressure on Hamas to accept a proposal for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by the militant group. Blinken, who is on his eighth visit to the region since October 7, is engaging with key stakeholders involved in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Before departing Cairo for Tel Aviv, Blinken disclosed that Egyptian officials had been in recent communication with Hamas. However, he refrained from providing a timeline for Hamas's official response to the ceasefire proposal, which was delivered over a week ago.
Blinken expressed optimism, stating that Egypt, the United States, and other nations believe that reaching a consensus is achievable. While acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding Hamas's decision-making process, he emphasized the importance of the proposed agreement in alleviating the suffering of Palestinians affected by Israeli airstrikes and in securing the release of hostages, including American citizens.
The Secretary of State highlighted that the ceasefire proposal had garnered support from the Israeli government and various international organizations, leaving Hamas as the sole entity yet to endorse the initiative. He stressed the urgency of Hamas's cooperation to bring an end to the conflict and facilitate the safe return of the hostages.
