In the midst of escalating violence, Hamas has called on the United States to exert “direct pressure” on Israel to secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. This appeal follows US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s Middle East tour, which aimed to promote President Joe Biden’s Gaza ceasefire roadmap. Antony Blinken indicated that a truce and hostage release deal remains possible despite ongoing deadly fighting in the Palestinian territory.
During his visit to Doha, the final stop of his tour, Antony Blinken expressed optimism about the potential for a ceasefire agreement. He stated that the United States would collaborate with regional partners to “close the deal.” Antony Blinken revealed that Hamas had submitted its response to mediators Qatar and Egypt late Tuesday, with some proposed amendments being deemed “workable” while others were not.
A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, emphasized the group’s demands for a “permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal” of Israeli troops from Gaza, which Israel has rejected. The proposed three-stage plan, endorsed by the UN Security Council and Arab powers, includes a six-week ceasefire, a hostage-prisoner exchange, and Gaza’s internationally backed reconstruction.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan noted that many of Hamas’s demands were “minor and not unanticipated,” although some differed significantly from the UN Security Council resolution’s outline. While Antony Blinken stated that Israel supported the plan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet formally endorsed it, citing the need for a “security assessment” in light of recent developments.
The Gaza war, now in its ninth month, was ignited by a Hamas attack on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. The militants also seized 251 hostages, with 116 still in Gaza, although the army reports that 41 of them are dead. Israel’s military response has left at least 37,202 people dead, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The conflict has also exacerbated violence along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. On Tuesday, an Israeli strike killed a senior Hezbollah commander, leading to increased rocket and missile attacks from Hezbollah on northern Israel. The Israeli military reported three waves of around 150 rockets and missiles, causing fires but no casualties. Hezbollah has also claimed over 10 additional attacks on the Israeli military, including one involving drones.
Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine threatened to “increase the intensity, strength, quantity, and quality of our attacks.” Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the army was prepared for a “very intense operation” to restore security to the north. Antony Blinken emphasized that resolving the conflict in Gaza and achieving a ceasefire would be the best way to end the Hezbollah-Israel violence.
In Gaza, residents expressed hope for a ceasefire to alleviate their severe suffering. Ahmed al-Rubi from Bureij refugee camp stated, “What has happened to us is enough.” The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel viewed Hamas’s response as a step towards accepting Israel’s hostage deal proposal and urged negotiators to act quickly.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn international condemnation. A UN investigation concluded that Israel has committed crimes against humanity, including “extermination” and using “starvation as a method of warfare.” The investigation found that both Israeli forces and Palestinian militants had committed war crimes. Israel rejected the findings, accusing the commission of “discrimination.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the unprecedented destruction and casualties among the Palestinian population during the war. The World Health Organization reported that over 8,000 children under five have been treated for acute malnutrition in Gaza, where only two stabilization centers for severely malnourished patients are operational.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the world watches closely, hoping for a resolution that brings lasting peace and relief to the beleaguered residents of Gaza.
