United States of America speeds up diplomacy to bring closer Ceasefire in Gaza Strip And Hostage exchange with Israel. This Tuesday, the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenvisited Egypt and QatarTwo mediator countries that lead negotiations between opposing parties. Meanwhile, pressure within the Jewish State continues to increase. A new poll finds that the majority of Israeli society Priority is given to the release of 136 hostages instead of defeat Hamas. Moreover, divisions within the Palestinian Islamist movement, whose political leadership is in Qatar and its operational branch in Gaza, make dialogue for a ceasefire difficult. In its statement, Hamas demanded the following: “Comprehensive and complete ceasefireand an end to aggression” was in response to the proposal drawn up in Paris last weekend.
After going through Riyadh We will meet the Saudi crown prince on Monday Mohammed bin SalmanBlinken landed in Cairo with a message of support and solidarity. In his meeting with the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisireiterated his opposition Forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza In the speeches of many Israeli leaders and encouraged by Israeli forces already harassing Welfare, at the southern end of the residential area. The American diplomat acknowledged Egypt’s mediation role and peacemaking efforts. humanitarian aid to Gaza Through its support for regional coordination in combating the strip’s only open crossing and its threat Houthis inside Red Sea. Blinken once again advocated for a two-state solution in his fifth visit to the region, without specifying how it would be achieved while the war on Gaza has already killed more than 27,500 Palestinians.
Hamas divided between Doha and Gaza
This marathon day in the region ended with Blinken Doha. There, in the same city Hamas opened officeA Biden Administration representative also repeated the same messages. “Blinken and the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al ZaniIt was agreed to continue close coordination to increase humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and to call for the protection of civilians in accordance with the Convention. humanitarian law“, US Secretary of State reported before Blinken left for Tel Aviv. Train it is another of the mediators in this conflict and acts as a meeting point between the two parties. Israel, Hamas And United States of America. Some of the hurdles in the negotiations have to do with logistics: Hamas’s political leaders in Qatar, corresponding to the movement’s military wing in the Strip, are not the ones making decisions on the ground.
Official leader from Doha, Ismail Haniye, operates with some freedom in the region and speaks openly with Qatari officials. boss in Gaza Yehya SinwarHe is alleged to have been the planner of the October 7 attack and the leader of the Qasim brigades, the military arm of the group. A source close to the negotiations told AFP that every proposal sent to the Hamas political office had to be evaluated. forwarded to Gaza. “Any change means change in both directions,” this anonymous source added. Additionally, developments in recent months have more weight The organization heading to Sinwar is currently busy evading Israeli troops. Although the Politburo was unaware of October 7, the secrecy surrounding the group, which tries to present itself as a single, unified and monolithic bloc, prevents it from being confirmed whether this event actually happened. Sinwar works personally Criteria for the ceasefire agreement, according to experts consulted by AFP.
“Comprehensive and complete ceasefire”
In any case, the Palestinian group finally responded to the proposal drafted in Paris last weekend, doubling down on its support. permanent ceasefire requestand a few weeks before the hostages were released. Despite their strong resistance after four months of conflict, the only assets Hamas has left are the prisoners. After days of negotiations, the Palestinian movement demanded a “comprehensive and complete ceasefire” in a statement published this Tuesday. End the aggression against our people“and ensure relief, shelter, reconstruction, the lifting of the blockade of the Gaza Strip, and completion of the prisoner exchange.” Qatar considered this a “positive response” and Blinken said: United States of America I will review and will discuss the developments with Israel this Wednesday.
Hours before his meeting with Blinken, internal pressures on the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, continues to rise. An internal evaluation conducted by the Israeli Army showed that: More than a fifth of the hostages They continue to be held in Gaza They died. Israeli intelligence officials concluded: At least 32 of 136 The remaining hostages captured by Hamas on October 7 have died since the start of the war, according to a secret estimate reviewed and published by Hamas. New York Times. It could also be twenty more captives According to unconfirmed intelligence information shared with the American newspaper, they were going to lose their lives. Most died on October 7, according to the Israeli Army.
This figure, which is the highest figure since the beginning of the war, further fuels the fire that has begun to spread on the streets of Israel. There, the hostages’ relatives are pressuring Netanyahu to deescalate the attack and allow their loved ones to be released. deal at all costs. A survey released Tuesday Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), the majority of Israelis, 51%, see Priority for the release of hostages Above the target of defeating Hamas in Gaza (36%).