On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had expressed support for the ceasefire plan put forward by President Joe Biden and endorsed by a resolution of the United Nations Security Council. During a media statement on his tour of the region, Blinken stated that he had met with several Israeli political leaders, including those from the opposition, as well as the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. Nearly everyone is in favor of the initiative, with the exception of Hamas.
Responding to questions from the press, Blinken indicated that the Israeli government would not change its mind even if Hamas were to give approval to Biden’s plan. The Secretary of State dismissed the idea of irreconcilable differences in reaching a permanent ceasefire and emphasized that any progress in this regard must be negotiated. He highlighted the importance of maintaining the immediate ceasefire while negotiations are ongoing, which he believes is beneficial for all parties involved. The plan proposed by the United States involves three phases, including the exchange of hostages for prisoners, a short-term ceasefire, a permanent cessation of hostilities, and a multi-year reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip.
Blinken emphasized that negotiation is crucial for finding a lasting solution in the region and expressed optimism that progress can be made towards a lasting peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.
