Israel Agrees to ‘Bridging Proposal’ for Gaza Ceasefire: Blinken

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken claims that Israel has accepted a final ceasefire proposal, which includes the release of Israeli hostages. However, the feasibility of this proposal remains uncertain.

During his Middle East trip, Blinken presented what he described as a final bridging proposal to end the ongoing conflict. While he asserts that Israel has agreed to the deal, doubts persist about the proposal’s practicality and acceptance.

In Jerusalem, there is doubt about the U.S.’s optimism, with many Israelis doubting the effectiveness of the proposal. Critics believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reluctant to finalize a deal for political reasons. Concerns include the potential collapse of his government if hardliners withdraw their support and the slim chance of achieving his ambitious goal of “total victory” over Hamas.

Israeli political commentator Nahum Barnea highlights Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining a military presence along the Philadelphi corridor, the border strip between Gaza and Egypt. This demand represents a shift from earlier negotiations, complicating the situation further. Hamas, under the leadership of Yahya Sinwar, has also toughened its stance, reportedly preparing to escalate the conflict with tactics like the suicide bombings seen in Tel Aviv.

Egypt is also unhappy with Israel’s position on the border, making the ceasefire proposal even more difficult to implement. Amid these complexities, there are concerns that the ongoing talks are merely for show. The U.S. fears that if negotiations collapse entirely, Iran and Hezbollah could retaliate for the assassinations of two senior figures, a situation that could destabilize the region and harm the Biden administration, especially with the Democratic convention approaching.

Despite ongoing discussions, many believe that simply maintaining dialogue will not resolve the conflict, secure the release of hostages, or alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s population, no matter how hopeful the U.S. may be.