Blinken sees 'real hope' for Gaza deal after Paris talks
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says "very important, productive work has been done" during the Paris talks over Gaza, which involved the US, "Israel", Qatar, and Egypt.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the State Department in Washington, DC, on January 29, 2024. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced hope Monday for a deal to halt the war in Gaza in exchange for releasing captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in the Strip, after talks in Paris involving mediator Qatar.
"Very important, productive work has been done. And there is some real hope going forward," Blinken told reporters after meeting earlier in the day in Washington with Qatar's prime minister.
He said that "there is good, strong alignment" among the sides involved in the talks that this is "a good, strong proposal."
The meeting Sunday in Paris brought together CIA chief William Burns with top officials from the Israeli occupation, Egypt, and Qatar.
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who attended the talks, said "good progress" had been made and the parties were "hoping to relay this proposal to Hamas and to get them to a place where they engage positively and constructively in the process."
Ceasefire in Gaza prerequisite for any subsequent step: Hamas official
But the media advisor to the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Taher El-Nounou, reiterated that a ceasefire in Gaza is the fundamental prerequisite for any subsequent step.
Speaking to Al Mayadeen, El-Nounou indicated that a set of proposals was presented to Hamas, affirming that no agreement has been reached so far.
The Hamas official said that a ceasefire would be followed by a prisoner exchange and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, pointing out that the main goal is to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza, while other details can be discussed afterward.
He mentioned that what is needed is a complete ceasefire and not a temporary truce, adding that the Israeli occupation is the side hindering an agreement, for reasons related to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
El-Nounou considered it early to talk about the number of prisoners to be released, stressing that Hamas is working on releasing Palestinian prisoners and ensuring they do not return to detainment.
He said that there are "political guarantees" from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, noting that Hamas is in constant communication with Cairo, coordinating with it on the issue of the Philadelphia Axis, and is relieved with Egypt's stance on this matter.
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