Blinken says ceasefire negotiations have reached ‘final stage’
US Secretary of State Blinken has pressed for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza and warned against the possibility of worsening regional escalation.
Here are a few of Blinken’s key remarks:
- An agreement between Israel and Hamas is in the “final stage” and called on all parties to finalise it “as soon as possible”.
- Further attacks “only perpetuate” conflict, instability and insecurity.
- The US has told Iran and Israel “directly” that regional fighting must not escalate further.
Final stage of failure? Last news was negotiations were going nowhere...
Is this a trick to hold of Iran, or is the US finally pressuring Israel into a ceasefire.
Maybe Blinken is finally pressuring Israel, not interested in Netanyahu's escalating war strategy
US’s Blinken did not ‘denigrate’ Sinwar after news of Hamas leadership role
At a joint news conference with their counterpart from Australia, the US secretary of state and the US secretary of defence put a lot of their focus on what is happening in the Middle East.
Again, Antony Blinken urged calm and said that no one should escalate the situation in the region. Interestingly, he said the US sent that message directly to Iran and also to Israel. The US doesn’t have a relationship with its counterparts in Iran. Usually they talk through the Swiss.
He was also asked about the appointment of Yahya Sinwar to be the sole leader of Hamas and the way he answered that question was very telling. What’s really significant is the language Blinken used. He didn’t denigrate Sinwar at all. He talked in a very hopeful way about the status of the negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was also asked about the attack on US service members in Iraq and he did say that they would not tolerate attacks on their personnel and he did say that he thinks an Iran-backed militia group was behind it.
But he didn’t signal there was going to be any kind of response. Again, the main focus from Washington, DC was the situation there cannot escalate and should not escalate.
Keeping up appearances or is he actually doing something.
Biden, Egypt’s el-Sisi speak on efforts to de-escalate regional tensions
The White House said the US president spoke with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to “address their efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, including through an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal”.
Biden thanked el-Sisi for “his determined leadership in the facilitation of negotiations that have now reached a final stage,” the White House added.
Earlier, Biden also spoke to Qatar’s Emir on de-escalating regional tensions.
Egypt siding with Lebanon probably sent some more alarm bells ringing.
