Blinken again says opportunity for peace now that Sinwar ‘removed from equation’
Blinken told reporters that Washington is “intensely focused” on bringing Israeli captives home, ending the war and alleviating the suffering of Palestinians.
“The reason I believe there is opportunity now is that I believe the biggest obstacle to concluding that agreement was Sinwar and the fact that he is no longer with us perhaps creates an opening for actually moving forward and concluding the agreement,” he said about Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in Rafah last week.
“In our judgement, one of the things that Sinwar was looking at and hoping for was the potential for wider conflict. If he could create a multi-front war with Hezbollah attacking Israel, potentially Iran attacking Israel, then he could just sit back and wait and not make any decisions on a ceasefire.”
Blinken said Sinwar “has now been removed from the equation” which could allow Hamas to refocus and sign an initial agreement, as a base for a “sustainable” ceasefire to come later.
Spreading lies again, Hamas already accepted a ceasefire in May. Netanyahu only wants a temporary pause, if at all and keep the IDF in Gaza and continue the genocide after a hostage deal.
‘We can’t really believe anything the secretary of state says’
Talk of reviving a Gaza ceasefire is just “gaslighting” as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels through the Middle East, says the Israel-Palestine advocacy director at the US-based group Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN).
“We can’t really believe anything the secretary of state says at this point,” Adam Shapiro told Al Jazeera. “What Blinken says about Israel’s war goals doesn’t match what the Israelis say are their war goals. The Israelis are planning for a resettlement of parts of Gaza, if not the entirety of Gaza.”
He also noted the clearing out of the Lebanese population suggests “there’s real reason to believe the settlement of southern Lebanon is on the table”.
“It’s the complete failure of this administration, of this secretary of state, for over a year now to do something meaningful to stop the atrocities that are happening.”
Israeli delegation to travel to Qatar on Sunday
An Israeli delegation will travel to Doha on Sunday, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Doha to meet with Qatari officials who have been key mediators seeking an end to Israel’s war on Gaza. Talks are expected to resume in the coming days.
A statement from the PM’s office said David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad, will lead the delegation.
He’s expected to meet CIA chief William Burns, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and the head of Egyptian intelligence Hassan Rashad.
“At the meeting, the parties will discuss the various options for starting the negotiations for the release of the abductees from the captivity of Hamas, against the background of the latest developments,” it said.
Netanyahu welcomes Egypt’s role in deal for captives’ release
Egypt’s “willingness to promote a deal” for the release of Israel captives has been praised by Israel’s prime minister.
“Following the meetings that took place in Cairo, the Prime Minister instructed the head of the Mossad to go to Doha and promote a series of initiatives on the agenda, with the backing of the cabinet members,” according to a statement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
About 250 people were taken captive in the Hamas-led attack on October 7 last year. At least 100 of them are still believed to be held inside Gaza.
Talks for their release have largely stalled for months but have gained new impetus following the killing of Hamas’s leader Yahya Sinwar last week. Hamas officials say no exchange will take place until Israel permanently halts its war on Gaza.
Netanyahu doesn't even utter the word ceasefire anymore.
