US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been actively urging Israel and Hamas to finalize a ceasefire agreement, with hopes that both parties will soon come to a resolution.
On September 5, 2024, Blinken stated that 90% of a truce deal had already been agreed upon, expressing confidence that a final agreement could be reached soon. He acknowledged that while most of the terms are settled, a few remaining issues need to be addressed. Blinken emphasized that the US is committed to assisting the process through mediators such as Egypt and Qatar to help finalize the agreement.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a different stance. In an interview with Fox News on the same day, Netanyahu downplayed Blinken’s optimism, denying that a truce deal was close to completion. Despite Netanyahu’s remarks, Blinken reiterated the US assessment, insisting that a significant portion of the truce deal was ready. He highlighted the urgency of finalizing the remaining details, warning that any delay could risk derailing the fragile progress that has been made so far.
The United States has been playing an active role in trying to bridge the gaps between both sides, especially on contentious issues like the presence of Israeli troops on the Gaza-Egypt border, a point of disagreement between Netanyahu and Hamas. Blinken believes that Netanyahu, who has been prioritizing diplomatic normalization with Arab states, could still achieve a historic deal with Saudi Arabia, even amidst the Gaza ceasefire negotiations.
Despite the challenges, Blinken remains hopeful that a ceasefire could be reached before President Biden’s term ends in January. He suggested that if the Gaza truce deal is secured, there may be an opportunity to advance talks on broader regional normalization, including between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The US remains committed to supporting the peace process and resolving these conflicts, working through diplomatic channels to achieve a lasting solution.
