U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged both Israel and Hamas to address the remaining obstacles in finalizing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. While much of the ceasefire deal has been agreed upon, a few critical points are still unresolved. One key issue is the control of the Philadelphi corridor, a border area between Gaza and Egypt, as well as the terms for exchanging Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Blinken, speaking during a press briefing, mentioned that approximately 90% of the agreement has been settled, but some gaps persist. He expects that the U.S., along with mediators from Qatar and Egypt, will present solutions to both Israel and Hamas to resolve the remaining issues in the coming days.
President Joe Biden had earlier proposed a three-phase ceasefire plan, but disagreements have continued. Hamas has strongly opposed any Israeli presence in the Philadelphi corridor, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that Israel will not withdraw from the area.
The ceasefire talks have gained further attention as several nations, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, have joined forces to reject Israel’s demand to keep its troops in the corridor.
The ongoing conflict, which started on October 7 with a Hamas attack on Israel, has led to significant casualties on both sides. Over 1,200 Israelis were killed, while Israel's subsequent response has resulted in more than 40,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread displacement in Gaza, sparking concerns of a humanitarian crisis.
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