US Secretary of State Antony Blinken must now secure Hamas’ approval for the deal, after the Palestinian militant group rejected previous proposals.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday thatIsrael had accepted a proposal to facilitate a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gazaand he called on Hamas to do the same.
Antony Blinken spoke after speaking for two and a half hours with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been mediating with Israel and Hamas for several months to negotiate an agreement, but the discussionshave been blocked several times.
The US secretary of state did not specify whether this new so-called “rapprochement” proposal addresses Israel’s demands for control of two strategic corridors inside the Gaza Strip – a demand that Hamas strongly rejects – or other issues that have long hampered negotiations.
“In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, he confirmed to me that Israel supports the new proposal.”Antony Blinken told reporters.
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken must now obtain Hamas’ approval for this dealafter the Palestinian militant group rejected previous proposals.