U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel as part of an intensified diplomatic effort by Washington to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, a region engulfed in conflict for the past ten months. His visit comes amid growing skepticism from Hamas, with a senior official dismissing optimism about a potential agreement as “an illusion.”
This trip marks Blinken’s ninth visit to the region since the war erupted in October 2023. His arrival follows recent proposals from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt aimed at bridging the gaps between the conflicting parties. A senior Biden administration official indicated that some progress has been made, stating, “We have addressed the remaining gaps and structured them in a manner that we believe constitutes a deal ready for finalization and implementation.”
However, Sami Abu Zuhri, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, countered this optimism, asserting, “We are not engaging in actual negotiations but rather facing the imposition of American mandates.”
During his visit, Blinken is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials to discuss the ceasefire and the ongoing conflict. The negotiations are taking place against a backdrop of heightened tensions, particularly following Iran’s threats of retaliation against Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
The U.S. has consistently warned Iran against any retaliatory actions, cautioning that such moves could have “cataclysmic” consequences.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy expressed their support for the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, urging all parties to avoid any actions that could escalate tensions. Discussions on implementing the ceasefire are expected to continue into early next week, with senior officials scheduled to reconvene in Cairo to finalize the agreement.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, violence continues in Gaza. On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike reportedly killed at least 18 members of the same family in the town of Zawayda, with many others injured. The strike hit a house and an adjacent warehouse sheltering displaced individuals. Israel issued new evacuation orders, citing nearby Hamas rocket fire as justification.
The airstrike has drawn renewed attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where residents face severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Palestinian health authorities report that over 40,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict escalated, predominantly civilians.
