Blinken Arrives in Israel to Seal ‘Essential’ Hamas-Israel Truce Deal: ‘Agreement Possible’

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, arrived in Israel on Wednesday to discuss truce deal that could witness release of hostages held in Hamas captivity and a three-phase four-and-a-half month temporary ceasefire to hostilities. Blinken said in Israel that “more work was needed to be done on hostage deal” but vowed optimism to reach a deal that pledges stepping up humanitarian assistance for civilians in war-battered enclave of Gaza.

In Tel Aviv, Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after a stopover in Qatar where he met with Qatari foreign minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. During talks with Israeli Prime Minister, US Secretary of State discussed state of war in Gaza strip. 

.@SecBlinken holds a joint press availability with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar. https://t.co/LGFcBmYIbo https://t.co/wmWgNcdfKR

— Department of State (@StateDept)

On seeing Blinken, Netanyahu joked, “I haven’t see you in a longtime.” Blinken responded, “Yeah, it’s been a few weeks.” A reout by US State Department said that Blinken in Tel Aviv will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and President Isaac Herzog.

As a part of his Middle East tour to restore peace in region, Blinken has visited Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Ramallah where he met with leer of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. Blinken and Abbas discussed “tangible steps” to establish a framework for post-war Gaza and creation of state of Palestine.

Blinken me a trip to Tel Aviv on January 9 where he met Netanyahu, as well as Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, war cabinet and intelligence agencies officials and or senior Israeli officials. Blinked also met with Israeli opposition leer Yair Lapid. US Secretary of State pledged to make “relentless efforts” to bring hostages held by Hamas home, as he also met with hostages’ families.

Blinken, Netanyhau hold ‘in-depth, long’ talks

According to a reout released by Office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken and his Israeli counterpart held a “long-and-in-depth” talks on truce proposal underway as well as counterproposal by Hamas. Palestinian terror group responded to hostages and temporary ceasefire deal brokered by US, Egypt, and Qatar in Paris suggesting a three-phased deal that would last for 45 days, and will include total withdrawal of all Israeli troops from populated areas of Gaza enclave and eventually a permanent ceasefire.

No demands of an immediate end to war has been me in framework agreement. Israel’s Prime Minister, Netanyahu, h vowed that war in Gaza will not end until his military achieves a “complete victory” over Hamas, and roots out its military infrastructure. truce deal involves release of hostages including children and women and men under 19 year old not enlisted in Israeli military in exchange for freeing all Palestinian females, juveniles, sick and elderly people held in Israel’s jails. This includes those obviated of serious crimes with life sentences.

In Tel Aviv, Blinken met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and said, We’re [US is] looking at it [ proposal] intensely, as is, I know, government of Israel.” He continued, “re's a lot of work to be done, but we are very much focused on doing that work, and hopefully being able to resume release of hostages that was interrupted.”

An Israeli official told brocaster Channel 13 that some of demands that have been me by armed Palestinian group Hamas “cannot be met.” It is up to Israeli authorities wher y would negotiate terms, suggest alternatives or reject outright counterproposal laid down by Hamas, sources familiar with negotiations, requesting condition of anonymity, ded. Hamas has reportedly listed “a series of demands” that Israel has been labelling as “non-starters.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to hold a press conference to discuss Hamas hostages deal later today alongside US Secretary of State Blinken at Kirya military HQ in Jerusalem rar than Capital Tel Aviv for first time. Qatar, that mediated ceasefire efforts expressed optimism, labelling negotiations as “positive.” 

Earlier today, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu told state press that Hamas has listed "demands that we will not accept” in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli prisons.US President, Joe Biden remarked on Hamas’s counter-proposal, saying: “re’s been a response from Hamas, but it seems to be a little over top … re’s continuing negotiations right now.”