Blinken says Gaza ceasefire needed within days after stalling
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken underlines that time is of the essence to reach a ceasefire in Gaza although the Biden administration kept procrastinating for 10 months.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media at the David Kempinski Hotel in Yaffa, occupied Palestine, Monday, August 19, 2024 (AP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has emphasized the urgency of securing a ceasefire in Gaza, wrapping up his Middle East tour without a concrete agreement between the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Resistance as the Israeli occupation continues to sabotage any attempt at reaching a deal.
Speaking in Doha before returning to Washington, Blinken reiterated the necessity for the resistance to accept the so-called "bridging proposal" already agreed upon by the occupation. "The deal needs to get done, and it needs to get done in the days ahead," he stressed.
The proposal being peddled by the United States completely disregards many demands made by the Palestinian Resistance, sidelining many key issues, as the Israeli occupation repeatedly changes the formulation of the agreement. Despite last week's negotiations ending without a breakthrough, the US underlines that it is hopeful ceasefire talks will continue this week.
The proposal includes an initial six-week ceasefire, during which a limited number of Israeli captives, including women, the elderly, and the sick, would be released in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails. The ceasefire could be extended while negotiators tackle the second phase, which involves the return of soldiers and bodies, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the return of displaced Palestinian civilians to their homes in northern Gaza.
However, one significant sticking point remains Hamas's demand for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from all parts of Gaza, which the Israeli occupation completely rejects and instead seeks to maintain a military presence in the strip.
When questioned in Qatar about the Israeli regime's troop withdrawal terms within the ceasefire framework, Blinken clarified, "The United States does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel. The agreement is very clear on the schedule and locations of Israel Defense Forces withdrawals from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to that."
A White House spokesperson dismissed as "totally untrue" reports that Netanyahu had told Blinken that the Israeli occupation forces would never leave the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors, calling such statements "not constructive to getting a ceasefire deal across the finish line."
Blinken flew from occupied Palestine to Egypt for talks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who stated that "the time has come to end the ongoing war," according to an official Egyptian statement.
US ceasefire proposal aligns with Netanyahu's new demands
On Monday, a Palestinian source involved in the negotiations revealed to Al Mayadeen details of a new US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange, emphasizing that it “completely contradicts the agreement that both parties had previously accepted.”
According to the Palestinian source, the new American proposal "builds on the May framework but has been adjusted to accommodate and align with the latest Israeli conditions and demands."
The source further explained to Al Mayadeen that, regarding the ceasefire, the US proposal “does not call for a permanent ceasefire.” Instead, the ceasefire is being discussed as part of a second phase with a clearly defined time limit.
The source highlighted that the US proposal emphasizes that “unless Hamas agrees to the Israeli demands, the occupation will resume military operations in the second phase.”
He also stressed that the proposal "does not include a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip," but rather "includes the ongoing occupation of the Philadelphi Axis while reducing the presence of the Israeli army," according to the Palestinian source.
The source added to Al Mayadeen that "it also includes the continued occupation of the Netzarim Junction, and monitoring and controlling the movement of people."
The source indicated that the US proposal "affirms Israel's right to refuse the release of at least 100 Palestinian prisoners and guarantees the deportation of a significant number of those released in the exchange deal outside of Palestine."
He explained that the proposal "gives the occupation the authority to veto 65 names out of 300 names of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment submitted by Hamas."
Read more: Gaza ceasefire deal 'still possible': Biden
