US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken welcomed the statement of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in support of the United Nations resolution supporting the ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip, and warned that the continuation of the war increases the chances of the conflict expanding in the region.
Blinken considered Hamas’s statement a “hopeful sign,” adding that what is being said by the leadership of the Palestinian movement in the Gaza Strip is the most important, and he called on the movement to decide whether or not to move forward with the proposed proposal.
Blinken spoke today, Tuesday, in Tel Aviv, during his meeting with the families of Israeli detainees in Gaza, as part of his eighth tour in the region since the beginning of the Israeli aggression against Gaza on the seventh of last October.
Blinken explained that he received confirmation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his commitment to the proposal, and he considered the proposal presented by President Joe Biden “the best.”
He pointed out that the talks on plans for the day after the war in Gaza will continue, and stressed that the longer the war lasts, the greater the possibility of expanding the conflict in the region. He said that the lack of a plan for the day after the war in Gaza will lead to renewed conflict in the future.
On May 31, Biden announced a three-stage proposal that includes a ceasefire, Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and an exchange of prisoners in the Strip, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and the entry of aid into the Strip and its reconstruction.
Hamas and the Security Council
Yesterday, Monday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution submitted by Washington calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and stressing the importance of Qatari, Egyptian and American mediation efforts. In turn, the American delegate said that the Council sent a clear message calling on Hamas to accept the proposal.
Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri said on Tuesday: “Hamas has accepted the Security Council’s decision regarding the ceasefire, withdrawal and prisoner exchange, and is ready to negotiate the details.”
Abu Zuhri added to Reuters, “The American administration is facing a real test to fulfill its pledges to oblige the occupation to immediately stop the war as an implementation of the Security Council resolution.”
Abu Zuhri’s statement came after a statement by Hamas that welcomed the contents of the UN Security Council resolution “regarding the permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the complete Israeli withdrawal from it, in addition to the exchange of prisoners, reconstruction, the return of the displaced, the introduction of aid, and the rejection of any demographic change or reduction of the area of the Strip.”
The statement affirmed Hamas’ readiness to cooperate with mediators to enter into indirect negotiations regarding the implementation of these principles, which it said were in line with the demands and resistance of the Palestinian people.
A point of contention
The Washington Post quoted American officials as saying that the main point of contention in the prisoner and detainee exchange negotiations is Hamas’ desire for a permanent ceasefire.
According to the sources, another point of contention in the negotiations is Israel’s pledge in return to achieve complete victory, which is unachievable.
According to the sources, Hamas is pressing for more guarantees that the deal will lead to a permanent ceasefire.