Blinken: Netanyahu Backs Truce, Urges Hamas to Negotiate

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had confirmed support for a U.S. proposal aimed at bridging gaps to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, and urged Hamas to do the same.

Blinken, after a three-hour discussion with Netanyahu in Jerusalem, reported that Netanyahu had committed to sending a delegation to the upcoming talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar, set to continue this week.

During a press briefing in Tel Aviv, Blinken relayed Netanyahu’s acceptance and support of the bridging proposal. He challenged Hamas, emphasizing that if the group truly represents the interests of the Palestinian people, it should agree to the ceasefire terms and collaborate on their implementation. This came in response to accusations from Hamas the previous day, suggesting that Netanyahu was obstructing mediation efforts.

Hamas had earlier urged the mediators to adopt a framework proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden in late May, criticizing the current proposal for favoring Netanyahu’s terms and blaming him for the stalled negotiations.

Blinken argued that finalizing this agreement is the most effective method to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians, exacerbated by the conflict that began with Hamas’ attack on October 7. He emphasized that the conflict’s resolution through this agreement would provide substantial relief.

On Tuesday, Blinken planned to visit Egypt and Qatar to meet with leaders there, who have been integral in crafting the ceasefire plan alongside the United States. He aimed to discuss Hamas’ latest stance on the ceasefire proposal, downplaying the group’s public criticism of the proposal by suggesting that such statements might not fully reflect Hamas’ actual position.