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The US and Qatar are trying to persuade Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal reached after talks last week

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani this morning, in which he stressed that the ceasefire proposal presented last Friday in Gaza already “addresses outstanding gaps” in an agreement that can be implemented quickly,” official sources reported on Wednesday. Thus they are trying to convince Hamas to accept the proposal, which, according to Blinken, Israel has already accepted. The talks are scheduled to resume this Wednesday in Cairo.

“The two foreign officials discussed efforts to negotiate a cease-fire agreement that would alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and guarantee the release of hostages,” said a statement issued tonight by the Deputy Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, Vedant Patel.

In the brief note, it is highlighted that the two “underlined that the bridge proposal presented by the negotiators addresses the pending gaps in a way that allows the rapid implementation of the agreement.” As Blinken said last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have already accepted that proposal, but the Palestinian movement rejected it, pointing out that it only contains Israeli demands. For this reason, he stressed that Egypt and Qatar, which together with the United States are part of the team mediating between Israel and Hamas, are making efforts to explain to Hamas everything necessary to understand the text and accept it. He assured that he would do “everything possible” to get the Palestinian movement to say yes to that proposal. One of the key points is the future Israeli military presence in the Strip. In an attempt to persuade Hamas, Blinken assured that the United States “does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel,” stressing that the agreement is clear about the schedule for the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The answer may come in a new round of talks that begins this Wednesday in Cairo, aimed at closing all gaps until reaching a final version that becomes a ceasefire agreement.

The two leaders also said they would “continue to work together to ensure that no party takes steps that could undermine efforts to reach an agreement,” without making a direct reference to either of the two contenders. (EFE)