Netanyahu accepts US ceasefire proposal, presses Hamas to do the same

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by international mediators, including the United States, to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The announcement was made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday (19) during a visit to Tel Aviv, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the terms of the agreement. Hopes now rest with the Hamas group, which has not yet commented on the proposal.

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^{Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State (photo: reproduction/ Anadolu/Getty Images Embed)}

International Peace Proposal

The new proposal, developed jointly by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, was announced last week and, according to Blinken, would “fill in the remaining gaps” in the negotiations and allow for rapid implementation if accepted by all parties. While the exact contents of the proposal have not been made public, people close to the negotiations say it provides a viable path to an immediate cease-fire, which they suggest is crucial to the release of hostages held by Hamas.

In a statement, Mr. Blinken emphasized the importance of this moment, calling it a “significant opportunity” to bring the hostages home and achieve a lasting ceasefire. According to the Israeli government, there are still 111 people under Hamas control who were captured in the October 7, 2023, attack that started the war in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Hamas continues to doubt the possibility of a deal and calls for a permanent ceasefire, rather than a temporary ceasefire as proposed by Israel. The Israeli government, on the other hand, insists that the war can only end with the complete destruction of Hamas as a military and political force.

A Decisive Opportunity

Negotiations are expected to continue throughout this week. New talks are scheduled for Doha, Qatar, where Blinken and Israeli and Palestinian representatives are expected to seek a peaceful solution. Meanwhile, Israeli military operations continue in the Gaza Strip, with reports of an incursion from Khan Younes in the southern Gaza Strip.

Featured photo: Antony Blinken and Benjamin Netanyahu (reproduction/Anadolu/ Getty Images Embed