Blinken Arrives in Israel; Potential US Negotiation with Hamas for the Release of Five Hostages

The US Secretary of State called on regional governments to pressure the extremist group Hamas to accept a ceasefire agreement announced by Joe Biden during his latest trip to the Middle East. Antony Blinken, who arrived in Egypt on Monday, June 11, and later went to Israel, stated after meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that Hamas is the only party that has not yet accepted the agreement. Washington claims that Israel has accepted the plan proposed by the US President. Upon his arrival in Israel, Mr. Blinken immediately met with the Israeli Prime Minister. He is also scheduled to meet with the country's Defense Minister. Before leaving Egypt for his trip to Israel and meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, the US Secretary of State told reporters: "My message to governments across the region and the people of the region is that if you want a ceasefire, pressure Hamas to say yes." Hamas is recognized as a terrorist group by the US and its European allies. The US and Egypt also negotiated the reopening of the Rafah crossing at the border between Egypt and Gaza. Mr. Blinken stated that regardless of an agreement, "it is vital to deliver more aid to Palestinians in need." The US Secretary of State, who is making his eighth trip to the Middle East since the Gaza war began, is expected to continue his journey to Jordan and Qatar after meeting with Israeli officials. Meanwhile, the Egyptian President emphasized the importance of removing obstacles to humanitarian aid delivery to the people of Gaza. On Sunday, NBC reported that if negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas fail, US officials are considering negotiating a "unilateral deal" with Hamas for the release of five American hostages. Two current and two former US officials told NBC that it is unclear what the United States would offer Hamas in exchange for the release of these hostages. The US claims that Hamas is holding five Americans captive, taken into the Gaza Strip during the deadly attack by the group on Israeli territory on October 7 last year. US officials hope to recover the bodies of three other American hostages who were killed on the same day. NBC reported that any potential US negotiations with Hamas would be mediated by Qatar, with Israel having no role in it. An Israeli government spokesperson responded to this report by stating that all countries should do whatever they can to secure the release of hostages. This comes as both Israel and Hamas reiterated their hardline stances, which have thwarted previous efforts to end the Gaza war, before Mr. Blinken's visit to the region. The Israeli Prime Minister reiterated in a statement that "we are committed to complete victory." Benjamin Netanyahu added, "What is the main disagreement? It relates to Hamas's request... that we end the war without achieving our goals of destroying Hamas... I am not prepared to do that." On the other hand, Hamas stated that the US government should pressure Israel to stop the war. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters that if the Biden administration pressures Israel to stop the war, the group is ready to positively engage with any initiative to end the conflict. Meanwhile, in addition to Benny Gantz, the leader of the Israeli National Unity Party, who resigned from the war cabinet, Gadi Eisenkot and Hili Trooper, two other ministers from this centrist party, also submitted their resignation letters to the Prime Minister on Sunday night. Additionally, the commander of the Israeli army in the south also resigned from his position. On the other hand, right-wing ministers allied with Benjamin Netanyahu's government, who have become stronger after the exit of Gantz and his allies from the coalition, threatened again that if a ceasefire plan is implemented, they will bring down the coalition government. Itamar Ben Gvir, the Minister of National Security and leader of the right-wing "Jewish Power" movement, called on Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday night to appoint him to the war cabinet.