U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration would like to see a new extension of the cease-fire agreement in Israel’s war with Hamas after the current one expires to secure the release of additional hostages held by the militant group and to ramp up humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
Quick Read
- Call for Cease-Fire Extension: The Biden administration hopes to extend the current cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. This extension aims to facilitate the release of additional hostages held by Hamas and increase humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
- Future Governance of Gaza: The administration is focusing on discussing the future governance of Gaza, particularly in the context of Israel’s objective to dismantle Hamas.
- Resistance from Israel and Arab Nations: Discussions about Gaza’s future governance face resistance. Israeli officials are concentrating on the war, while Arab leaders prioritize ending the fighting that has led to significant civilian casualties.
- Expiration of Current Cease-Fire Deal: The existing cease-fire agreement is set to expire, intensifying the need for a new extension.
- Blinken’s Comments in Brussels: Speaking in Brussels during a NATO meeting, Blinken emphasized the importance of extending the cease-fire to facilitate more hostage releases and increased aid to Gaza.
- Israel’s Stance on Resuming Military Operations: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that Israel will resume military operations after the current cease-fire, aiming to prevent future attacks like those on Oct. 7.
- U.S. Focus on ‘Day After’: The U.S. is engaged in conversations with various countries about the situation in Gaza post-conflict, highlighting the need for long-term planning beyond immediate cease-fire arrangements.
- Biden’s Support for Continued Pause: President Joe Biden supports the continuation of the cease-fire as long as possible, aligning with the broader objective of planning for Gaza’s future after the conflict.
- Opposition to Palestinian State: Netanyahu’s opposition to the formation of an independent Palestinian state contrasts with the U.S. view, which sees the establishment of a Palestinian state as key to enduring peace and security in the region.
- Blinken’s Middle East Visit: Blinken’s remarks come as he prepares for his third visit to the Middle East since the onset of the conflict, reflecting the U.S.’s active diplomatic engagement in seeking resolution and planning for the future governance of Gaza.
The Associated Press has the story:
Blinken seeks a new extension of Gaza cease-fire as he heads again to Middle East
Newslooks- BRUSSELS (AP)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration would like to see a new extension of the cease-fire agreement in Israel’s war with Hamas after the current one expires to secure the release of additional hostages held by the militant group and to ramp up humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
As he prepared to make his third visit to the Middle East since the war began with Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, Blinken said Wednesday that in addition to discussing short-term logistical and operational planning, the Biden administration believes it is imperative to discuss ideas about the future governance of Gaza if Israel achieves its stated goal of eradicating Hamas.
Israel and Arab nations have resisted such discussions about future governance, with Israeli officials concentrating on the war and Arab leaders insisting the immediate priority must be ending the fighting that has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians.
The extension of the current deal expires later Wednesday.
“Looking at the next couple of days, we’ll be focused on doing what we can to extend the pause so we can continue to get more hostages out and more humanitarian assistance in,” Blinken told reporters in Brussels, where he was attending a NATO foreign ministers meeting.
“And we’ll discuss with Israel how it can achieve its objective of ensuring that the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7 never happen again, while sustaining and increasing humanitarian assistance and minimizing further suffering of Palestinian civilians.”
He added before leaving Brussels for Israel and the West Bank: “Everyone’s focused on the day of, on what’s happening in Gaza right now, but we also need to be focused at the same time — and we are in conversations with many other countries — on what I call the ‘day after’ and ‘the day after the day after’: I mean, what happens in Gaza once the campaign is over?”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear that Israeli forces will eventually restart military operations after the conclusion of the current, temporary cease-fire that has allowed for an exchange of hostages taken by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
U.S. President Joe Biden has said he would like to see the pause continue for as long as feasible. Biden and Blinken have also stressed the importance of planning for post-conflict Gaza as well as the need to resume negotiations for the eventual creation of an independent Palestinian state. Netanyahu is opposed to a Palestinian state and has said he is the only Israeli leader who can prevent one from being formed.
“We believe that that is the only path to enduring peace, to enduring security, to the preservation of Israel as a strong secure, democratic Jewish state and Palestinians having their legitimate aspirations for a state and self determination,” Blinken said.
