The US Secretary of State said Washington would not accept a long-term occupation of the Palestinian enclave
Israel has agreed to withdraw its troops from parts of Gaza as part of ongoing attempts to reach a ceasefire deal with the Palestinian group Hamas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday after the latest round of talks in Qatar.
Talking Speaking to reporters in Doha, Blinken was asked to comment on earlier reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had convinced Washington to allow Israel to maintain its forces in the Philadelphia Corridor between Egypt and Gaza.
While he did not share any specific details about the ongoing negotiations, which are being brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar, the secretary of state said that “the United States does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel,” and that the current agreement under discussion is “very clear about the timeline and locations of the withdrawals (of the Israel Defense Forces) from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to that.”
Blinken added that the latest proposal is “probably the best, possibly the last opportunity” to reach a ceasefire agreement in the ten-month conflict, and said Washington would do so “everything possible to get to the finish line.”
His comments come after it was reported earlier this week that Netanyahu had told families of fallen Israeli soldiers that West Jerusalem will not, under any circumstances, leave the Philadelphia Corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border, and the Netzarim Corridor that runs between the northern and southern parts of the Palestinian enclave. He reportedly argued that these areas must be controlled to prevent weapons being smuggled into the enclave.
The prime minister has refused to budge on the issue, according to public broadcaster Kan, despite demands from Israeli negotiators, who have warned Netanyahu that his stance is hurting chances of reaching a deal.
Blinken too called both on Israel and on Hamas to have “maximum flexibility” in order to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Faced with Netanyahu’s insistence on remaining in both corridors, Hamas issued a statement on Sunday rejecting the latest terms of the hostage ceasefire agreement discussed last week, specifically blaming the Israeli prime minister for putting new obstacles in the negotiations.
Hostilities erupted after the militant group Hamas launched a surprise incursion into southern Israel from Gaza on October 7 last year, resulting in the deaths of around 1,100 people while another 200 were taken hostage. The massive Israeli military response cost more than 40,000 lives, while over 92,000 people were injured, according to Palestinian health officials.
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