Gaza Ceasefire Plan: Blinken Weighs Hamas’s Proposed Changes

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has acknowledged that some of the proposed changes to the Gaza ceasefire plan put forward by Hamas are workable, while others are not. Speaking at a press conference in Cairo, Blinken said that the United States is “working with Egypt and other partners to try to get the parties to a sustainable ceasefire.” He added that the “basis” for a ceasefire is the plan presented by Egypt, “and we’re talking to Hamas about some changes that they’ve proposed.” Blinken emphasized that “some of those changes” are “workable,” but “others are not.” He declined to provide specifics on which proposed changes the United States supports or rejects. Hamas has reportedly proposed a number of changes to the Egyptian ceasefire plan, including the lifting of the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Blinken said that the United States is “committed to working with all the parties to try to get to a ceasefire that is sustainable and that addresses the underlying issues that have led to this conflict.” He added that the United States is “also committed to working with partners in the region to rebuild Gaza.” The ceasefire plan presented by Egypt calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, followed by negotiations on a long-term ceasefire arrangement. The plan also calls for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the opening of crossings into and out of the territory. Hamas has accepted the Egyptian ceasefire plan, but Israel has not yet agreed to it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will continue to take military action until Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel.

Gaza Ceasefire Plan: Blinken Weighs Hamas’ Proposed Changes

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that some of the proposed changes to the Gaza ceasefire plan put forward by Hamas are workable, while others require further consideration. Blinken met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo on Monday to discuss the ongoing negotiations. He acknowledged that Hamas had submitted a set of proposals to revise the plan, which was originally drafted by Egypt. “We’re taking a look at them,” Blinken said. “Some of them, we believe, can be worked with. Others, we think, are not workable.” He did not provide specific details about which proposals were deemed acceptable or not. However, he emphasized that the US remains committed to achieving a sustainable ceasefire and improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Blinken’s visit to Cairo comes amid renewed tensions in the region following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and retaliatory rocket fire from Hamas. The Egyptian-mediated ceasefire plan aims to de-escalate the violence and address the underlying issues contributing to the conflict. According to sources close to the negotiations, Hamas has proposed changes to the plan related to the lifting of the blockade on Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. Blinken’s assessment suggests that the US may be willing to consider certain concessions to facilitate the ceasefire agreement. However, he also stressed that the US and Egypt will not accept any proposals that undermine the fundamental security concerns of Israel. The ongoing negotiations underscore the complex and challenging nature of achieving a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Both sides have expressed a desire for peace, but significant obstacles remain, including mistrust and long-standing grievances.