At a press conference in Tel Aviv last night, following his discussions in Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that “Netanyahu has accepted the US mediation proposal at the Doha summit, and now Hamas should do the same.” On Tuesday morning, Blinken was set to fly to Cairo and Doha for a series of talks, where he will urge Egyptian President Fattah el-Sisi and the Emir of Qatar to exert strong pressure on Hamas to return to the negotiating table.
Yesterday, Blinken met with the families of the American hostages. During the meeting, Blinken expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached within a few days. When the families asked how the Americans would know if Netanyahu was “deceiving” them, Blinken replied that America has ways of determining that. Despite Blinken’s optimism, the families do not feel that a resolution is imminent.
In his discussions in Israel, Blinken stated that “Netanyahu has changed his position and that an agreement will be reached, taking into account the security risks.”
An Israeli politician mentioned last night that the American proposal included a solution for the Philadelphi Corridor that is acceptable to Netanyahu. However, it is said in Israel that there are still gaps regarding the border issue. Israel also accuses Egypt of refusing to convey Israel’s position on the Philadelphi Corridor to Hamas. An Israeli delegation, consisting of representatives from the Shin Bet, the IDF, and the Coordinator of Government Operations, returned yesterday from two days of talks in Cairo that ended without progress, as the Egyptians refused to allow any Israeli presence on the Gaza-Sinai border. Netanyahu agreed to reduce IDF troops along the Philadelphi Corridor, but the Egyptians, as mentioned, demand a full withdrawal, and Netanyahu insists on an Israeli presence there. Israel hopes that Blinken will exert pressure on the Egyptians regarding this matter.
A political source stated that the Americans did not reject the strategic and security logic presented by the Prime Minister concerning the principles on which he insists. The source explained:
“The American proposal presented in Doha takes Israel’s security needs into account, which is why we agree to it. The American understanding of Israel’s security needs was also discussed at today’s meeting. On the one hand, it is a simple fact that Israel has agreed to the latest American proposal and that the Americans are more or less on our side. Apparently, they are aligned with us. On the other hand, there is Hamas, which is officially against it. And then an absurd situation occurs: those involved in the negotiations attack the Prime Minister, even though Hamas declares that it is against the agreement. This is simply insane. The Prime Minister estimates that Iran and Hezbollah are looking for opportunities to attack in any case. If Israel yields to Hamas and ends the war before we have achieved all our goals, it will send a message of weakness to the entire region, potentially leading to a regional war.
“Once the enemy sees that we are weak, they will attack us even more forcefully.
“The second thing is that they want to keep their proxies. They know that if we end the war before achieving our goals, Hamas will remain in power, and Iran’s proxies will stay. What did our soldiers fall for? They (members of the negotiation team and the security forces) say that nothing will happen if we withdraw from Philadelphi and that they know how to handle it? The Prime Minister is not willing to accept that. He says that if we leave Philadelphi and capitulate to Hamas, it is uncertain whether we will be able to return because Israel is under significant political pressure. We can see now what kind of pressure is being exerted on us. What happens if we leave the Philadelphi Corridor, there is a ceasefire, and then we want to return? Then the gates of hell will open politically for us. Who knows if the Americans will support us? You don’t know who will be in the White House then. The Prime Minister remains committed to his principles, and Israel is pleased that the Americans understand its security needs while also trying to secure the return of our captives.”
At a press conference in Jerusalem, Blinken said, “President Joe Biden asked me to come here to reaffirm US support for Israel’s security. Due to the tensions, we have deployed more military forces to the region, not to provoke but to deter. If this happens, we are ready to defend Israel,” Blinken began his statement. “It is crucial now that all steps are taken to avoid actions that could inflame the conflict and lead to an escalation of violence.”
Blinken added, “The second goal is to advance efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages. This is the best way to bring the hostages home and achieve a ceasefire that protects Israel’s security and increases humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
As mentioned earlier, he referred to the US proposal at last week’s summit and his meeting with Netanyahu: “The President, together with Qatar and Egypt, has made a proposal to bridge the remaining differences between the parties.” In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, he confirmed that Israel accepted the mediation proposal, which he supports – now Hamas must do the same.”
He said, “The mediators should meet, finalize the process, and reach an agreement on how to implement the commitments from the agreement.” He emphasized that complex issues remain on the agenda, requiring difficult decisions. “I believe that here and across the region, there is a sense that we urgently need to reach the finish line as quickly as we can.”
“We will never give up. With each passing day, more hostages may die, and events may occur that complicate the situation. The mediation proposal that Netanyahu has accepted reflects the ceasefire proposal that Biden presented in May, which was accepted by the Security Council: initially, a six-week ceasefire during which hostages are released, prisoners are released, and negotiations are resumed under the condition of a permanent ceasefire,” the American continued.
During the press conference, Netanyahu said of his meeting with Blinken. “I had a good and important meeting with the Secretary of State today. I greatly appreciate the efforts that the US is putting into regional defense against the Iranian axis. This is, of course, important for the State of Israel.” He also appreciated the understanding the US has shown for Israel’s vital security interests during joint efforts to secure the release of the hostages.
At the end of the press conference, Netanyahu’s office announced that “the Prime Minister will meet this week with women who returned from Hamas captivity and whose family members are still in captivity.” The women, who returned in November 2023, were released as part of the agreement for women and children. The communiqué stated that the purpose of the meeting was “to listen to them, update them, and share with them our efforts to bring their relatives back.”
The headquarters of the families of the abductees stated that the families thanked “Blinken for his unwavering support and the entire Biden administration for their efforts to finalize an agreement that will bring the hostages home – the living for rehabilitation and the victims and murdered to lay to rest.” They continued to urge all parties involved to sign an agreement as soon as possible. “This is the last chance: time is running out for the captives.”
Earlier, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with the US Secretary of State in the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv and reportedly appealed to Blinken, saying: “Just as Israel is leading the military pressure on Hamas, the US must lead the political pressure until there is a plan that brings the hostages back.”
The Secretary of State had also met with President Isaac Herzog. Blinken, speaking alongside Herzog, said, “This is a critical moment, probably the best opportunity, perhaps the last opportunity, to bring the hostages home, to achieve a ceasefire, and to secure peace and safety.” Before his meeting with the Israeli President, the American diplomat added, “It’s time for this to end. It is also time to ensure that no one takes steps that could undermine this process. That’s why we’re working to prevent any escalation. No provocations, no actions that could in any way prevent us from reaching this agreement.”
Blinken also stated, “I know this is a difficult moment for Israel. We are very concerned about the possibility of attacks from Iran, Hezbollah and other sources, and as you have heard from the President, the United States is taking decisive action with the deployment of troops.” He emphasized, “It’s time for everyone to say ‘yes’ and not look for excuses to say ‘no’.”
