In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the United States has shared a proposed United Nations Security Council resolution with the aim of initiating an “immediate ceasefire contingent on the liberation of hostages” in the Gaza Strip, as stated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The diplomat declared his statement during a Middle East tour, which includes a visit to Israel, as the U.S. works towards a ceasefire in the nearly six-month-long conflict. Key supporter, the United States, has previously vetoed UN Security Council votes on the issue, most recently in February, opposing the inclusion of the term “immediate” in an Algerian-proposed draft.
In recent weeks, the U.S. has increased pressure on its ally, while demanding that Hamas militants immediately release the hostages captured during their unprecedented October 7 attacks on Israel.
In actuality, there is a proposal currently being considered by the United Nations Security Council, which urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, contingent upon the release of captives. Secretary Blinken expressed hope that nations will endorse this measure, believing it would convey a powerful message and signal. This statement was made during his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he addressed the media on a Wednesday evening.
Ensuring the Safety of the Civilians
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to dismantle Hamas in response to the October 7th attacks. While supporting Israel’s right to self-defense, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of civilians caught in the crossfire and provide them with necessary humanitarian aid.
During his visit to Saudi Arabia, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and later Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Blinken’s regional tour includes stops in Egypt and Israel, followed by discussions in Qatar, where mediators are working tirelessly for a ceasefire. The proposed plan in Qatar aims to temporarily halt hostilities, allowing for hostage exchanges, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and increased delivery of relief supplies.
Hospital Attack
Recent conflicts involve an Israeli attack on Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital, a large facility teeming with patients and refugees. Israel claims that Palestinian militants are hiding within the premises. According to the Israeli army, during the Monday morning operation, they arrested over 300 suspects, including numerous high-ranking terrorists and individuals occupying crucial roles.
Israel declared that its forces have eliminated around 90 alleged terrorists since the operation’s commencement, as per army chief Herzi Halevi, who added that the goal is to prevent such locations from being controlled by Hamas.
In response, Hamas denounced the Israeli actions at Al-Shifa for three consecutive days, accusing them of executing numerous displaced individuals, patients, and staff. The Hamas-controlled territory’s health ministry reported at least 70 casualties in Gaza during the night. UN agencies have expressed concerns about Gaza’s 2.4 million residents facing imminent famine, with UN rights chief Volker Turk suggesting Israel might be employing “starvation as a method of war.” Earlier, Blinken highlighted that Gaza’s entire population is experiencing “severe levels of acute food insecurity.”
Feared Rafah invasion
UNRWA’s Philippe Lazzarini issued a grave warning, stating that “siege, hunger, and diseases are on the verge of becoming the primary cause of death in Gaza.” In Rafah, the last uninvaded area in Gaza, approximately 1.5 million Palestinians reside, with many seeking refuge in tents near the Egyptian border after leaving other parts of the coastal region.
The United States urges Israel to avoid a comprehensive land invasion, expressing worry for the safety of civilians, while Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on a ground assault as the only means to eliminate Hamas.
Israel has persistently targeted Rafah and declared on Wednesday that they have “eradicated senior Hamas operatives” in the city. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is scheduled to visit Washington in the upcoming week for discussions with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, although no specific date was provided. Additionally, a delegation will visit Washington at the request of US President Joe Biden to discuss the planned Rafah operation.
The deadliest Gaza conflict to date erupted following Hamas’s October 7 attack, resulting in approximately 1,160 deaths in Israel, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP compilation of official Israeli statistics. Militants also captured around 250 hostages, with Israel believing that 130 of them are still in Gaza, including 33 presumed dead. Israel’s military has retaliated against Hamas, leading to the deaths of nearly 32,000 people, primarily women and children, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.
“Take a step back”
The discussions in Qatar have shown minimal signs of an immediate agreement this week. Osama Hamdan, a high-ranking Hamas official from Lebanon, stated that Israel’s reaction to their recent proposal was “mainly negative… and represents a step backward.”
This plan aims to momentarily cease hostilities, allowing for hostage exchanges involving Palestinian prisoners and an increase in the delivery of relief supplies. Additionally, tensions have escalated in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces and settlers have tragically caused the death of at least 437 Palestinians since the Gaza conflict began.
