Gaza ceasefire talks to resume this week as Blinken says Israel accepts US-made deal

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00Before leaving Israel, the U.S. Secretary of State pressed Benjamin Netanyahu to agree

00:05to a ceasefire when talks resume in Egypt later this week.

00:09On his ninth visit to the Middle East since October 7th, Antony Blinken warned that the

00:14window for a workable truce could be closing.

00:18There is, I think, a real sense of urgency here, across the region, on the need to get

00:24this over the finish line.

00:26In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to

00:31me that Israel accepts the bridging proposal, that he supports it.

00:36It's now incumbent on Hamas to do the same.

00:39The differences remain between Israel and Hamas.

00:42Netanyahu is insisting that Israel maintains control over two strategic corridors within

00:48Gaza.

00:49Hamas rejects this as a non-starter and wants the framework proposed by the Biden administration

00:54in April, which Israel has refused.

00:57Relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza are also sceptical about the hopes of a ceasefire

01:03panning out.

01:05I expect nothing from this meeting because our prime minister is blocking the hostage

01:14deal.

01:16In the city of Khan Younis in Gaza, Palestinians cast doubt on the influence wielded by the

01:21Americans over a deal.

01:24Blinken's visit to Israel will not change anything.

01:27We hear this every time but it's not true, it's the complete opposite.

01:32Today in the Gaza Strip we're suffering badly because of the Americans.

01:36This visit is, as usual, just to check on Israel and provide it with weapons and logistic

01:40matters.

01:41The latest ceasefire proposal would freeze fighting for an initial six weeks as hostages

01:46in Gaza are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and humanitarian aid enters

01:52the Strip.

01:53But there are other areas that need to be hammered out in the coming weeks in Cairo.

Category

Transcript

Recommended