Israel: “If Hamas cares about the people, it will say yes to the agreement”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is continuing his Middle East trip to Israel and Egypt to achieve de-escalation in the face of the tense situation and to facilitate an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages. Since Monday evening, there is more hope that this will happen. Israel has accepted the latest US-backed proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, Blinken said at a press conference. Now it is up to Hamas to agree to the proposal.

“If Hamas and its leadership truly care about the Palestinian people, they will say yes to the agreement,” Blinken said. This is the only, best and fastest way to end the terrible suffering of the men, women and children in the Gaza Strip in the war following the attack by Hamas and other Islamist groups on October 7. There was initially no reaction from Gaza late Monday evening.

Hamas leader Sinwar under pressure

Before his announcement, Blinken met with relatives of the hostages. As Israeli television station Channel 12 reported, citing participants, Blinken hinted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was really striving to reach an agreement this time. He gave the impression that this could be possible within days.

Blinken also reported that there was enormous pressure on Hamas leader Jihia al-Sinwar to agree to the so-called bridging proposal. The mediators from Egypt and Qatar also exerted pressure.

According to Blinken, the current bridging proposal reflects the content of the ceasefire agreement that US President Joe Biden presented to the world in May. After that, the process will proceed in phases: an initial ceasefire over a period of six weeks in which hostages are released and prisoners are exchanged, and negotiations are held on the terms of a permanent ceasefire.

In the coming days, negotiating experts must come together to reach clear agreements on how to implement the agreement, Blinken said. “These are still complex issues and they will require difficult decisions by heads of state and government.”

Blinken nevertheless hoped for a quick agreement: “The longer this goes on, the more hostages will suffer, possibly die.” “Other things could also happen,” said the American chief diplomat, referring to the tense situation in the Middle East.

Israel ready to make concessions on Philadelphia Corridor, according to report

The most controversial issue in the negotiations was whether Israel would withdraw from the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which it captured in May. Hamas is demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu, on the other hand, is demanding that the Israeli army continue to control the so-called Philadelphia Corridor even after a ceasefire, for example to prevent the smuggling of weapons.

According to information from Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, Israel is now ready to reduce its military presence along the Philadelphia Corridor. Ravid wrote this on the online news portal “walla.co.il,” citing two unnamed Israeli sources who are familiar with the matter. According to Ravid, there are also signs of progress in the discussion on reopening the southern Rafah border crossing.

Negotiators were due to meet in Cairo this week to discuss specific issues. Another top-level meeting was scheduled for Sunday. According to Blinken, Netanyahu wants to send his team of experts to either Cairo or Doha.

According to Israeli figures, Hamas still has 115 hostages in its power, 41 of whom Israel has declared dead. In addition, other hostages whose fate is unknown are probably no longer alive.