Blinken Heads to Israel as Hamas Rejects US Gaza Truce Terms

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to Israel on Sunday, aiming to secure a Gaza ceasefire that could help prevent a broader conflict, while a senior Hamas official dismissed what he called “American dictates” in the negotiations.

This marks Blinken’s ninth visit to the Middle East since the Gaza war began following Palestinian militants’ attack on Israel on October 7. During this trip, he is scheduled to meet with Israeli leaders before peace talks resume in Cairo.

U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators have noted progress in the ongoing negotiations, with U.S. President Joe Biden stating that “we are closer than we have ever been” to a ceasefire. However, Sami Abu Zuhri, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, downplayed these claims, telling AFP that any signs of progress after two days of discussions in Doha are “an illusion.”

“We’re not facing a deal or genuine negotiations, but rather the imposition of American dictates,” Zuhri stated.

Despite past optimism during previous ceasefire talks, no agreements have materialized, and the stakes have escalated following recent high-profile killings of Iran-backed militant leaders, including Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has also worsened, with concerns about a potential polio outbreak.

After mediators announced a “bridging proposal” to address remaining gaps between the warring parties, Hamas rejected what it described as “new conditions” from Israel and called for the implementation of a plan proposed by Biden in late May. Talks are set to continue in Cairo in the coming days.

Before departing for Tel Aviv, Blinken received a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, calling for “heavy pressure” on Hamas to reach an agreement. Critics, including some analysts and Israeli protesters, have accused Netanyahu of delaying a deal to protect his hard-right ruling coalition.

Meanwhile, violence continues in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and Lebanon, where Israeli forces and Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, have been exchanging fire almost daily throughout the conflict.

In Gaza, civil defense rescuers reported that seven people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Deir al-Balah, with four others dying in attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp in the north. The Israeli military stated that its troops were conducting operations in central and southern Gaza and had “eliminated approximately 20 terrorists” in Rafah, near the Egyptian border.

A Palestinian source confirmed that militants were fighting Israeli forces in Rafah on Saturday. An airstrike in central Gaza reportedly killed 15 members of a single family, further increasing the Gaza health ministry’s death toll to 40,074.

In response to Hamas’ October 7 attack, which led to the deaths of 1,198 people, mainly civilians, according to Israeli figures, the violence has escalated across the region. In Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh killed 10 Syrians, one of the deadliest attacks on southern Lebanon since October. Israel claimed the strike targeted a Hezbollah weapons storage facility.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed “two senior Hamas officials” in Jenin, according to the Israeli military. Hamas confirmed the deaths of militants Ahmad Abu Ara and Raafat Dawasi.

Iran and its allies have vowed retaliation for Haniyeh’s death in Tehran and for an Israeli strike in Beirut that killed a senior Hezbollah commander. Western and Arab diplomats continue their efforts to broker a Gaza deal, which they believe could prevent a wider regional conflict.

In Israel, Blinken’s mission is to “finalize the agreement for a ceasefire and the release of hostages and detainees,” according to the State Department. The proposed deal, outlined by Biden on May 31, would pause fighting for six weeks and facilitate the release of hostages and prisoners.

Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’ October 7 attack, 111 remain in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are deceased. Over 100 hostages were released during a one-week truce in November.

The ongoing war has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, raised fears of famine, and destroyed much of the region’s housing and healthcare facilities. On Friday, the Palestinian health ministry reported the first case of polio in Gaza in 25 years.