U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday that Israel has accepted a U.S.-backed proposal designed to bridge the differences obstructing a cease-fire and the release of hostages in Gaza. In his statement, Blinken urged Hamas to agree to the proposal as well, though he did not clarify whether the concerns raised by the militant group had been addressed.

 

The ongoing negotiations have taken on increased urgency in recent days, with diplomats hoping to avert potential retaliation from Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah following the targeted killings of two senior militants, actions attributed to Israel. The rising tensions have fueled fears of a broader, more destructive regional conflict.

 

Blinken made his remarks after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Following this, he is scheduled to travel to Egypt and Qatar for further negotiations. The three mediators have been engaged in efforts to end the conflict in Gaza for months, but the talks have frequently hit roadblocks.

 

“In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to me that Israel supports the bridging proposal,” Blinken told reporters, although he did not elaborate on the specifics of the proposal. “The next important step is for Hamas to say ‘yes.’” However, Blinken added that even if Hamas agrees to the proposal, negotiators would need to spend the coming days working on “clear understandings on implementing the agreement.” He emphasized that there are still “complex issues” that require “hard decisions by the leaders,” but did not provide further details.

 

Hamas, on the other hand, has expressed growing frustration with the United States as a mediator, accusing American negotiators of favoring Israel, which has reportedly made new demands that the militant group finds unacceptable. Blinken did not comment on whether the proposal addressed Israel’s demand for control over two strategic corridors inside Gaza—an issue Hamas has categorically rejected—or other contentious matters that have complicated the negotiations.

 

Prime Minister Netanyahu described his meeting with Blinken as “good and important,” expressing appreciation for “the understanding that the United States has shown to our vital security interests, along with our shared efforts to release our hostages.” He also mentioned that efforts are being made to release the maximum number of hostages in the initial stage of the cease-fire agreement.

 

This marks Blinken’s ninth diplomatic mission to the Middle East since the conflict began. His visit comes just days after mediators, including the United States, voiced renewed optimism that a deal was within reach. However, Hamas has conveyed deep dissatisfaction with the latest proposal, while Israel has indicated that there are certain points on which it is unwilling to compromise.

 

Earlier on Monday, Blinken emphasized that this was a “decisive moment,” potentially the last opportunity to secure a cease-fire and free the hostages. He stressed the importance of ensuring that no one takes actions that could derail the process, indirectly referencing Iran. “It’s also time to make sure that no one takes any steps that could derail this process,” Blinken said. “And so we’re working to make sure that there is no escalation, that there are no provocations, that there are no actions that in any way move us away from getting this deal over the line, or for that matter, escalating the conflict to other places and to greater intensity.”

 

The mediators are expected to meet again this week to solidify the cease-fire agreement. Blinken’s diplomatic journey will continue on Tuesday with visits to Egypt and Qatar, where Hamas maintains a political office.

 

 

Credit: PBS  2024-08-20

 

 

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As expected unfortunately. 

 

US officials say Gaza deal on edge of collapse

“We don’t know if Sinwar wants this deal,” said one of the officials familiar with Israel’s stance in the ongoing negotiations. “But if we don’t get the deal there’s a chance that Iran attacks and this escalates into a full blown confrontation.”

The officials in this story were granted anonymity to speak freely about sensitive diplomatic negotiations. The National Security Council and the Israeli embassy in Washington declined to comment.

The U.S. has signaled previously that it was close to a deal — first in the spring and then again in May when President Joe Biden’s announced a multiphase deal that would allow for the release of dozens of hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Each time, though, the talks have broken down, with Israel and Hamas layering on new conditions that the other side was unwilling to discuss or accept.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/20/gaza-deal-fail-us-00175132

All depends on whether the new add ons are a red line for Hamas then.

If, as reported on Al Jazeera, netanyahu insists on keeping the IDF inside Gaza during a ceasefire, the agreement is dead on arrival.

 

Hamas has been reported as saying that they will only agree to the proposal put forward in May- the one Biden presented, and will not accept any new add ons from netanyahu.

 

Of course, if it fails the US will accuse Hamas of being the problem, when it is actually netanyahu adding unacceptable conditions.

Blinken, IMO, is a stooge for israel and not to be trusted. He's far too cosy with netanyahu.

55 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

All depends on whether the new add ons are a red line for Hamas then.

If, as reported on Al Jazeera, netanyahu insists on keeping the IDF inside Gaza during a ceasefire, the agreement is dead on arrival.

 

Hamas has been reported as saying that they will only agree to the proposal put forward in May- the one Biden presented, and will not accept any new add ons from netanyahu.

 

Of course, if it fails the US will accuse Hamas of being the problem, when it is actually netanyahu adding unacceptable conditions.

Blinken, IMO, is a stooge for israel and not to be trusted. He's far too cosy with netanyahu.

You are quite happy to call out Blinken and Israel as not to be trusted, how about Hamas, the terrorists who hold the ball in their hands and always have?

 

Just in case anyone thought talks with these terrorists were anything but an exercise in more lies and psychological terror by them. How many changes did Sinwar make to the original deal?

 

Sinwar has always been involved in ceasefire talks, says Hamas official
Hamas’s new chief Yahya Sinwar has always been part of the decision making process in the Gaza ceasefire talks, the terror group’s senior official Osama Hamdan says.
“Due to security conditions, communication with Sinwar has tools and mechanisms in place yet they are operating smoothly,” Hamdan adds in an interview with Reuters.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/sinwar-has-always-been-involved-in-ceasefire-talks-says-hamas-official/

Didn't he say that becoming a martyr is the greatest thing? Or was that just for the civilians being used as human shields in Gaza.

 

https://x.com/sentdefender/status/1826326295208198418

 

OP too long to read ... 

 

Title reads like deal w/Israel.   Was Hamas invited or is it a 'take or else deal' 

 

All a bit irrelevant, as in less than a year, they accuse each other of ignoring & violating any deals.  History does repeat itself ... decades of 'rinse & repeat'

Another load of cobblers, the US, Israel, Egypt and Qatar come to a cease-fire agreement without any impute from the other party, Hamas/ Palestinians, and we wonder why this conflict has gone on for decades.

I suspect Iran also has a hand in this and possibly one of the reasons that Hamas has refused to attend further talks

 

https://x.com/AIPAC/status/1826962821591994570

 

Qatari PM to travel to Iran to discuss ceasefire-hostage talks

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Qatar’s prime minister will travel to Iran in the coming days, Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency reports.

The agency says he is traveling to discuss bilateral issues and important regional issues. Doha has been hosting talks for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/qatari-pm-to-travel-to-iran-to-discuss-ceasefire-hostage-talks/