KATHMANDU: On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted a "bridging proposal" from Washington to address obstacles in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. This proposal aims to reconcile differences and advance a ceasefire deal. Blinken's announcement followed a lengthy meeting with Netanyahu and comes amid ongoing discussions in Qatar and rising international pressure on US President Joe Biden's administration.
There are still big obstacles in the way of this progress. Due to opposing requests from both parties, negotiations have been stuck for months. While Hamas seeks an indefinite ceasefire, Israel maintains that the war can only be resolved by eliminating Hamas as a political and military entity. There are still disagreements on border security, prisoner exchanges, and military involvement.
Hamas officials have accused the US of favoring Israel and manipulating the process to benefit Israeli interests. They argue that the proposed deal could merely delay action rather than resolve underlying issues. The recent escalation, including a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and continued Israeli strikes on Gaza, has exacerbated tensions and undermined prospects for a quick resolution.
Blinken’s visit, his ninth to the region since the conflict began, included meetings with Israeli leaders and plans to visit Egypt and Qatar. The Egyptian authorities have indicated that further talks in Cairo will depend on an agreement over the security arrangements for the Philadelphia Corridor, a critical area between Egypt and Gaza. An international presence in this corridor is being considered but may be limited to six months.
There has been a great deal of suffering from the protracted fight, and both sides have suffered heavy losses. Since it started on October 7, 2023, the conflict has severely damaged Gaza and increased tensions in the area. The situation is still unstable despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, and neither side is showing much hope for quick relief.
