Blinken describes Israel-Hamas cease-fire as nearing the finish line

July 19, 2024 TruthUSA

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that while some issues still needed to be resolved, a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas was on the brink of being finalized.

According to Mr. Blinken, Israel and Hamas were close to agreeing on a proposed cease-fire deal put forth by the Biden administration. Speaking at the Aspen Institute think tank on July 19, he mentioned that the deal was nearing completion and could soon be confirmed by both parties.

Despite his positive outlook, Mr. Blinken acknowledged that the final stretch of negotiations could be challenging. He mentioned, “There remain some issues that need to be resolved, that need to be negotiated. We’re in the midst of doing exactly that.”

Since the end of May, the Biden administration has been working towards brokering the proposed cease-fire. This proposal is part of a broader framework introduced by President Joe Biden, which includes several transitional phases for Israel and Hamas, such as the release of hostages held by Hamas and the eventual withdrawal of Israeli troops from urban areas.

While Israel and Hamas’s political leadership have both endorsed the framework, finalizing the negotiations has proven to be more elusive, as per Mr. Blinken’s remarks.

Mr. Blinken pointed out the challenge of securing lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians post-war.

He stressed, “There’s some fundamental realities that we can’t escape,” highlighting the need for reaching key milestones before Palestinian statehood could become a reality.

Mr. Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to a two-state solution and emphasized the importance of ensuring that the future Palestinian leadership does not endorse violence against Israel or its own people.

Exploring the obstacles to peace, Mr. Blinken identified Hamas and the Islamist regime in Iran as significant barriers to the establishment of a Palestinian state, citing their history of disrupting peace agreements and launching attacks on Israel.

Barriers to Peace

He emphasized the necessity of isolating Iran and its proxies to promote regional stability and normalize Israel’s relationships with neighboring powers.

Mr. Blinken expressed concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and advocated for proactive measures to prevent the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons.

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