2024-07-23 07:40:42
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism about a quick ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, stressing that the parties are close to completing negotiations. He said this during his speech at the Aspen Security Forum.
“We are nearing the conclusion of the negotiations, although there are still issues that require further discussion,” Blinken said, adding that the process is in an active phase and the parties are “on the last line.”
In the complex negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which have been ongoing for more than nine months, there are still serious disagreements over key aspects of the proposed deal, especially the release of hostages and the terms of a truce. Israeli sources say the main difficulties lie in the selection of categories of hostages to be released and security arrangements in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that the young men held hostage must be released first in the first phase of the agreement. In response, Hamas has proposed releasing the group of hostages only in the second phase of the ceasefire, adding to tensions in the talks.
Israel also requires maintaining certain security measures in southern and central Gaza and control over the northern part of the enclave to prevent a possible return of Hamas and Islamic Jihad – a condition that has worried critics who fear that weapons left in the north could fall into terrorist hands.
Additional Israeli demands include maintaining a military presence in Gaza’s populated areas, particularly the southern city of Rafah and surrounding areas, which Netanyahu sees as critical to ensuring the region’s security.
US President Joe Biden has proposed starting a second round of talks after a six-week truce, but the Israeli side has expressed concerns that Hamas could use the truce to delay the process, insisting on a strict six-week period.
Earlier, Cursor wrote that the Israeli delegation would not participate in hostage negotiations this week.