U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in the Middle East for the ninth time since the Gaza conflict started, trying once again to broker a ceasefire. You have to wonder how many more of these trips it will take before something actually changes. Blinken’s latest attempt to wrap up a deal comes just days before new talks are set to begin in Egypt. But don’t hold your breath—Hamas isn’t happy with the latest proposal, and Israel has its own red lines it refuses to cross.
Blinken is calling this a “decisive moment,” likely one of the last chances to secure a ceasefire. He’s been meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv, emphasizing the need for all sides to avoid actions that could derail the process. Translation? Don’t do anything stupid that could blow this deal up. Herzog, for his part, thanked Blinken for the Biden administration’s unwavering support while lamenting the relentless attacks Israel has faced in recent days.
The backdrop to all this diplomatic maneuvering is the fear that the conflict could spiral into a broader regional war, especially after the recent killings of top militant leaders in Lebanon which is something Iran has been quick to blame on Israel.
To recap, the war kicked off on October 7 when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. As of now, about 110 hostages are believed to still be in Gaza, although Israeli authorities say around a third are dead. A weeklong ceasefire in November led to the release of more than 100 hostages, but the fighting quickly resumed.
Israel’s response has been devastating, with over 40,000 Palestinians killed, according to local reports, and large parts of Gaza left in ruins. Despite this, there’s cautious optimism around a possible deal. The plan on the table involves Israel halting most of its military actions and releasing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages still held by Hamas.
Before Blinken touched down, Netanyahu made it clear that while Israel might be open to some compromises, they won’t be giving in to all of Hamas’s demands. The current proposal suggests a phased process where Hamas would release all hostages, Israel would pull back its forces, and Palestinian prisoners would be freed. However, Hamas is accusing Israel of moving the goalposts, adding new demands about maintaining military control over key areas like the Gaza-Egypt border. Israel says these are just clarifications, not new demands.
The U.S. is trying to bridge the gap between the two sides, with formal responses to the latest proposal expected soon. If things go well, we might see a ceasefire announced, but let’s not forget how many times these efforts have failed before.
Hamas, predictably, is accusing Netanyahu of dragging his feet and setting up roadblocks to prolong the war. They’re calling the latest proposal a sellout to Israeli conditions.
Blinken, meanwhile, is urging both sides to seize this chance to reach an agreement, saying it’s time to stop finding reasons to say no. An Israeli delegation has also been meeting with Egyptian officials as part of the truce efforts, focusing on the Gaza-Egypt border, but don’t expect any major breakthroughs there either.
So, here we are again, with Blinken making the rounds in the Middle East, trying to pull off what seems like an impossible task. The media might want to paint this as a crucial moment, but after so many failed attempts, it’s hard not to be cynical.