The arrival of the US secretary of state comes after international mediators said they were close to a deal after two days of talks in Doha, and US and Israeli officials expressed cautious optimism.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinkenarrived on Sunday Tel Aviv to try to seal a ceasefire agreement between Israel y Hamas after more than ten months of war in Gazawhere Israeli attacks have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians.
Blinken’s arrival came after the United States and fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar said they were nearing a deal after two days of talks in Dohaand that American and Israeli officials expressed a cautious optimism.
Hamas and Israel seem to keep their distance in the negotiating process
Hamaswho did not participate directly in the talks, has shown his endurance what he calls new demands from Israel. The proposal in evolution foresees a process in three phases in which Hamas would release all hostages kidnapped during its October 7 attack on Israel. In exchange, Israel would withdraw its forces from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuaccused Hamas of sabotage efforts to reach a ceasefire. “So far, Hamas has been completely stubborn. It has not even sent a representative to the Doha talks. Therefore, the pressure should be directed at Hamas, not the Israeli government,” he said.
Fears of a possible regional escalation have not dissipated
As Blinken landed in Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities showed journalists their preparations for any possible attack in the port city of Haifa, in the north of the country.
The Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah has launched drones and rockets against Israel almost daily since the start of the war, and Israel has responded with airstrikes and artillery. The escalation of violence has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes on both sides of the border.
“Israel is not in the best neighborhood. We have been preparing for an attack and we are prepared for anything. There is diplomatic attempts to de-escalate the situation, but we are prepared for everything and for anything on any front,” said Commander David Avraham, head of the Israeli forces’ International Press Department.
Los fears of rapid escalation in other parts of the region have risen again, after Iran and its allies threatened retaliation for the assassinations in Lebanon of senior Hezbollah commanders and also of head of the political arm of Hamas when he was in Tehran.
Meanwhile, at least one person died and another was injured after the bomb explosion in Tel Aviv on Sunday night, according to the Israeli Police. “It has been confirmed that it was a bomb explosion,” said a police spokesman. From Gazahealth authorities in the Strip reported that 29 people had died during the night and during the day on Sunday.
