US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has cautioned that the current cease-fire proposal could be Hamas’ final opportunity to end the prolonged conflict with Israel, which has been ongoing for ten months.
During his latest Middle East visit, Blinken announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to a new “bridging proposal” for a cease-fire, now leaving Hamas to decide whether to accept it.
Blinken emphasized that this might be the best, if not the last, chance to secure a cease-fire and address the hostage situation, calling it a critical moment for achieving lasting peace and security.
He acknowledged that failure to reach an agreement could lead to more hostage deaths and potentially complicate the situation further.
The conflict began on October 7 with a Hamas attack on southern Israel, resulting in over 1,400 deaths and about 200 hostages taken.
Israel’s response has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties and widespread devastation in Gaza.
President Joe Biden has expressed optimism about reaching a deal soon, possibly by the end of the week.
Although details of the new proposal are not public, it is intended to address unresolved issues between the two sides.
Recent violence, including a Hamas-claimed bombing in Tel Aviv, has raised concerns about possible further escalation.
Hamas has criticized the proposal, alleging it favors Israeli demands and ignores their own.
A key sticking point remains the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Philadelphi Corridor, which will need to be resolved if Hamas agrees to the proposal.
