Israel Agrees to US Cease-Fire Proposal, Blinken Calls on Hamas for Compliance

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday that Israel has agreed to a proposal aimed at resolving differences hindering a cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza. He urged Hamas to also accept the proposal, though he did not specify if it addressed Hamas' concerns. Blinken's comments followed a 2½-hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Blinken's visit to the Middle East, his ninth since the conflict began, comes amid renewed optimism from mediators, including the US, that a deal is near. However, Hamas has expressed dissatisfaction with the latest proposal, while Israel has indicated there are points it will not compromise on.

Efforts to Broker a Cease-Fire

The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have been working for months to broker an agreement, but talks have repeatedly stalled. Blinken did not clarify whether the bridging proposal addressed Israel's demands for control over two strategic corridors inside Gaza, which Hamas has rejected.

"In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to me that Israel supports the bridging proposal," Blinken told reporters. "The next important step is for Hamas to say yes."

Blinken emphasized the urgency of concluding a Gaza cease-fire agreement that would return hostages held by Hamas and alleviate Palestinian suffering after over 10 months of intense fighting in Gaza.

Regional Concerns and Diplomatic Efforts

The trip comes just days before new talks expected this week in Egypt and amid fears that the conflict could escalate into a broader regional war. This follows the targeted killing of two top militants in Lebanon and Iran attributed to Israel.

"This is a decisive moment, probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a cease-fire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security," Blinken said during talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv.

Herzog thanked Blinken for the Biden administration's support for Israel and lamented recent attacks against Israelis. "This is the way we are living these days," Herzog said. "We are surrounded by terrorism from all four corners of the earth and we are fighting back as a resilient and strong nation."

Details of the Proposed Agreement

The evolving proposal involves a three-phase process where Hamas would release all hostages taken during its October 7 attack. In exchange, Israel would withdraw its forces from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas accuses Israel of adding new demands for maintaining a military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent arms smuggling and along a line bisecting Gaza. Israel claims these are clarifications of previous proposals rather than new demands.

Officials stated that the US has presented proposals to bridge remaining gaps between Israeli and Hamas positions. Formal responses are expected this week and could lead to a cease-fire declaration unless talks stall again.

Challenges in Negotiations

Late Sunday, Hamas accused Netanyahu of setting obstacles by demanding new conditions, claiming he wants to prolong the war. "The new proposal responds to Netanyahu's conditions," Hamas said in a statement.

Blinken urged both sides to seize this opportunity for an agreement. "It is time for everyone to get to yes and not look for any excuses to say no," he said.

An Israeli delegation held talks with Egyptian officials as part of truce efforts. The hours-long meeting focused on the Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border but did not achieve a breakthrough. The official stated that Israel still insists on controlling the border and east-west route bisecting Gaza.

The war began on October 7 when Hamas-led militants entered Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others. Approximately 110 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza; Israeli authorities say around one-third are dead. Over 100 hostages were released in November during a weeklong cease-fire.

Israel's counterattack in Gaza has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths according to local health authorities and caused significant destruction across the territory.

Late last week, Egypt, Qatar, and the US reported progress on a deal where Israel would halt most military operations in Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages' release.

Shortly before Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday, Netanyahu told his Cabinet there are areas where Israel can be flexible but also areas where it will not compromise. "We are conducting negotiations and not a scenario in which we just give and give," he said.

Blinken will travel to Egypt on Tuesday for meetings in el-Alamein after concluding his visit to Israel. He also met with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant later on Monday.