Blinken Travels to Egypt, Israel to Discuss Cease-fire Proposal

Facts

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Egypt on Monday to discuss a potential Gaza cease-fire deal in his eighth trip to the region since the war began. Blinken was also set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.¹
• Hamas said on Monday that it is still reviewing the proposal announced by US Pres. Joe Biden last month. Hamas claimed last week that the written proposal it received was different than what Biden laid out in his announcement, saying it did not guarantee a permanent end to the conflict.²
• Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel will not accept a deal until it has defeated Hamas, secured the release of hostages, and ensured that Gaza will not pose a threat to Israel in the future. The right flank of Netanyahu's coalition has threatened to withdraw from the government if Netanyahu accepts the deal.²
• Meanwhile, NBC News reported that the US is considering negotiating a separate Qatari-mediated deal with Hamas that would ensure the release of American hostages, according to US officials. The negotiations would not involve Israel.³
• The report comes in the wake of an Israeli operation in central Gaza that rescued four hostages but killed scores of civilians. Gaza's health ministry said the raid killed 274 people, while Israel said fewer than 100 people died in the operation.⁴
• The attack has prompted the UN World Food Program to pause its distribution of aid from a US-built pier off Gaza, saying it was 'concerned about the safety of our people.' The agency did not give many details regarding the pause. The US military, though denying that US personnel were involved in the raid, said Israel used an area near the pier 'to safely return hostages.'⁵

Sources: ¹BBC News (a), ²CBS, ³NBC, ⁴BBC News (b) and ⁵Associated Press.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Forward. A guaranteed end to the war will ensure increased humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave, preserve Israel's security, and create a better 'day after' in Gaza without Hamas in power. If Hamas is ready to engage constructively, then the Israeli government must stand behind the cease-fire plan. Hamas must seize this moment and stop the fighting.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Every success on the battlefield should be celebrated, and Israeli forces managed to accomplish an astonishing rescue. Still, Israel must also remember that every victory hardens the hearts of Hamas' terrorist leadership. Israel cannot solely rely on military pressure to win this war, as the diplomatic and international fronts are crucial in defeating Hamas.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. It should be clear after almost eight months of grinding brutality that Israel's true goal is to destroy Gaza and starve its people. Israel's 'rescue operation' — which the US participated in — killed over 250 people, yet Israel and the US act as if this would somehow improve the situation. Israel is committing daily massacres in Gaza, and the US is fully complicit.

Predictions