Blinken’s Middle East Trip Fails to Secure Gaza Ceasefire
WASHINGTON/GAZA – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his ninthtrip to the Middle East since October 2023 on Sunday, returning to Washington without securing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Despite his efforts to broker atruce, significant divides between Hamas and Israel remain, leaving a ceasefire seemingly out of reach.
Blinken’s visit, which aimed to increase pressure for aceasefire, saw him meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday before traveling to Egypt and Qatar. In Cairo, he held discussions with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. While in Doha, Blinken was initially scheduled to meet with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, but the meeting was canceled due to the latter’s sudden illness, with a phone call taking place instead.
Sources within the USadministration revealed that the change in schedule was due to Al Thani’s unexpected health issues.
According to the Middle East news website Al-Monitor, both Sisi and Blinken emphasized the need for an agreement between Hamas and Israel to end hostilities in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of remaining hostages held byHamas.
Following his meeting with Blinken, Sisi stated, A ceasefire in Gaza must be the beginning of wider international recognition of the State of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution, as this is the fundamental guarantee for stability in the region.
Currently, the US, along with mediatorsEgypt and Qatar, are pinning their hopes on a proposed transitional agreement aimed at bridging the gap between Hamas and Israel in their ongoing conflict, which has lasted for nearly 10 months.
Last week, a new round of negotiations took place in Doha, but no breakthrough was achieved, with Hamas representativesabsent from the talks.
Prior to his departure, Blinken told reporters that the agreement needs to happen, and it needs to happen in the coming days. We are going to do everything we can to get it over the finish line.
A senior Biden administration official accompanying Blinken confirmed that the US expectsceasefire negotiations to continue this week.
Despite Blinken’s efforts, the current situation suggests that a ceasefire remains elusive. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalating.
The lack of a ceasefire agreement raises concerns about the potential for further escalation and the continuedsuffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.
The international community is urging both sides to engage in meaningful dialogue and prioritize a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, the deep-seated mistrust and conflicting demands between Hamas and Israel continue to pose significant obstacles to a lasting peace.
【来源】https://news.ifeng.com/c/8cFGeHhUSAx
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