Israel is willing to compromise with Hamas to reach an agreement ending the conflict in Gaza, the US Secretary of State indicated last night.
Antony Blinken gave a positive update after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He also called on Hamas to agree to the same “bridge proposal” that would lead to a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages.
During his ninth visit to the region since the October 7 Hamas terror attacks, the senior diplomat also warned that the current proposal could be a “last chance” for peace.
Mr Blinken said last night: ‘In a very constructive meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed to me that Israel supports the bridge proposal. The next important step is for Hamas to say yes.’
Antony Blinken (left) gave a positive update after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right)
Smoke and flames rise after an Israeli attack on a residential building, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas
Relatives of hostages kidnapped by Hamas in a deadly attack on October 7 and supporters hold signs and American flags during a demonstration outside a press conference by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.
The latest proposal came about thanks to mediation by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
The most sensitive aspect is who controls two strategic corridors in Gaza.
Hamas has previously indicated that a deal giving Israel control over these corridors is a “non-starter.”
Israel remains opposed to granting autonomy to Hamas, fearing the terror group will use the corridors to smuggle military equipment into Gaza.
To prevent this, Israel has proposed that some troops be allowed to remain along the Gaza-Egypt border after any ceasefire.
Mr Netanyahu, in turn, said the talks with Mr Blinken had been “positive” and “in good spirit”.
The 10-month conflict has reportedly killed more than 40,000 people, including thousands of women and children.
It has also led to a humanitarian crisis in the occupied territories, with Palestinian families desperately lacking basic necessities such as shelter, food and medicine.
The Hamas atrocities of October 7 left more than 1,100 Israelis dead and 250 kidnapped, of whom 110 are believed to still be in Gaza.
The 10-month conflict has reportedly left more than 40,000 people dead, including thousands of women and children (pictured: A man carries the lifeless body of a Palestinian girl to Al-Ahli Arab hospital after an Israeli shelling of a group of civilians)
Israel is also bracing for more suicide attacks by Hamas after the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv on Sunday (photo)
However, there are concerns that a third of those prisoners are dead. Today, Mr Blinken is expected to travel to Egypt for further talks to end the fighting.
The proposal will reportedly be divided into three phases: the phased release of hostages in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners.
In its latest statement on the negotiations, Hamas on Sunday accused Netanyahu of continually creating obstacles to an agreement by demanding new conditions.
Israel is also prepared for more suicide attacks by Hamas after a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Hamas confirmed that it had been a “martyrdom operation.”
Dozens of civilians were praying near the explosion, but there were no fatalities. One person was injured.
Hamas warned that more such operations will take place as long as Israeli bombardments of Gaza continue. Sunday’s attack was the first since 2016.