Blinken’s Remarks Lack the Optimism Previously Voiced by Biden Administration Officials Amid Ongoing Gaza Conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his visit to the Middle East without achieving a significant breakthrough on a ceasefire to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Blinken’s diplomatic efforts included visits to Tel Aviv, Egypt, and Qatar as part of his mission to negotiate a ceasefire deal. Despite intense negotiations, Blinken reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for a US proposal aimed at bridging differences on the ceasefire.
However, Hamas disagrees with this assessment. The group claims that while it initially accepted the US ceasefire proposal, the latest terms have deviated from the original agreement, accusing the US of conceding to new Israeli demands.
Hamas spokesperson Osama Hamdan criticized the US for allegedly allowing Israel to “continue its genocide” in Gaza and suggested that the US is simply buying time for further Israeli military actions.
“The Israelis have backed away from key elements of President Biden’s proposal,” Hamdan told Al Jazeera. “Netanyahu’s willingness to discuss an updated proposal indicates that the US administration has not succeeded in persuading him to accept the initial agreement.”
