Blinken announces that Israel has agreed to Biden's cease-fire proposal, urging Hamas to follow suit.
Blinken urges Hamas to agree to proposal terms.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "agreed" to President Biden's cease-fire plan to potentially end the 10-month conflict in Gaza, but the cessation of hostilities ultimately hinges on Hamas.
Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, stated to reporters from Israel that the proposal presented by the White House in collaboration with Qatar and Egypt last week aimed to "close the chasms" between the opposing sides and has been "approved" by Netanyahu.
"Blinken stated that Hamas must also support it."
The parties, aided by mediators, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, must collaborate to finalize the agreement's implementation plan, including specifics on fulfilling their commitments.
Blinken did not reveal the details of the proposal, and Netanyahu has not yet agreed to any cease-fire.
Both Jerusalem and Hamas have "complicated problems" that will "demand difficult choices" before the war can be considered resolved.
"Across the region, there is a strong sense of urgency to complete this task as soon as possible," Blinken stated. "The United States is fully committed to accomplishing this mission immediately."
After a two-and-a-half-hour meeting and months of negotiations, Netanyahu "accepted" the terms of the proposal.
The proposal aims to guarantee the release of all hostages held by Hamas since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.
The proposal did not include Israeli control over strategic routes within Gaza, such as the Philadelphi Route, which Hamas considers a non-negotiable condition for any peace agreement.
According to a report by the Times of Israel, an official familiar with the meeting between Netanyahu and Blinken, the Americans did not reject Israel's strategic logic.
While Hamas continues to exist, Israel maintains its stance that the route is a security concern.
In the past nine years, Blinken has made nine trips to the Middle East, and he will soon travel to Egypt and Qatar.
The possibility of a larger conflict in the region increases due to threats from Iran and other extremist groups such as Hezbollah.
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