Blinken pushes Netanyahu on Gaza ceasefire proposals

The US secretary of state Antony Blinken last night urged top Israeli officials to accept and implement a plan for postwar Gaza as he also pushed for more international pressure on Hamas to agree to a ceasefire proposal newly endorsed by the UN Security Council.

On his latest urgent mission to the Middle East – his eighth since the Israel-Hamas war began in October – Mr Blinken met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant after talks in Cairo with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi to push the proposal, which faces new uncertainty following Israel’s hostage rescue operation that killed many Palestinians and turmoil in Mr Netanyahu’s government.

Mr Blinken told Mr Netanyahu that “the United States and other world leaders will stand behind the comprehensive proposal outlined by president Biden that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance for distribution throughout Gaza,” the State Department said.

After the Security Council passed a US-sponsored resolution endorsing the ceasefire proposal, Hamas said it welcomed the move and was ready to work with mediators in indirect negotiations with Israel to implement it. The statement was among the strongest from Hamas to date but stressed the group would continue “our struggle” to end the Israeli occupation and work on setting up a “fully sovereign” Palestinian state.

However, the militant group still has not formally responded to the proposal it received 10 days ago. Mr Blinken again urged Hamas to accept it, saying it has wide international support and Israel has accepted it, although Mr Netanyahu has expressed skepticism.