Blinken optimistic on Gaza ceasefire despite administration transition
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasizes that any resolution would be based on President Joe Biden's plan, which he claimed has near-universal global support.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with reporters at the State Department in Washington on April 11, 2024 (AP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed confidence on Monday that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza would be reached, although it might not materialize until after President Joe Biden's term ends on January 20.
Speaking from Seoul, South Korea, Blinken reiterated that the Biden administration "will work every minute of every day" until the end of its term to secure a captive release deal.
"We very much want to bring this over the finish line in the next two weeks," he told reporters.
"If we don't get it across the finish line in the next two weeks, I'm confident that it will get its completion at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later," he added.
Blinken emphasized that any resolution would be based on President Biden's plan, which he claimed has near-universal global support.
Driving the news
US President-elect Donald Trump, who will assume office on January 20, has pledged unwavering support for "Israel" and warned Hamas of severe consequences if Israeli captives taken during the October 7, 2023 attack are not released.
Blinken said that Hamas had shown "intensified engagement" toward finalizing a deal, but it remained incomplete.
A Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday that the group has reportedly approved a list of 34 captives for a potential exchange deal as part of ongoing discussions regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.
The official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, emphasized that any agreement remains conditional upon an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
But "there has been no progress from Israel on the matters of withdrawal from Gaza or a permanent ceasefire," the official pointed out.
"We need Hamas to make the final necessary decisions to complete the agreement and to fundamentally change the circumstance for the hostages, getting them out, for people in Gaza, bringing them relief, and for the region as a whole, creating an opportunity to move forward to something better," he added.
