Egypt’s small-scale Gaza cease-fire seeks breakthrough on hostage deal

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

ISRAELI OFFICIALS ARE REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING A SMALL-SCALE EGYPTIAN CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL WITH HAMAS.

AN ISRAELI SECURITY CABINET OFFICIAL SAID THE POTENTIAL CEASEFIRE WOULD INVOLVE THE RELEASE OF SIX ISRAELI HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR A TWO-WEEK PAUSE IN FIGHTING.

THE CEASEFIRE WOULD BE A TEMPORARY FIX UNTIL A FULL-SCALE RELEASE OF ALL 101 HOSTAGES COULD BE SECURED.

THE POTENTIAL BREAKTHROUGH COMES AS U-S SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN ARRIVED IN ISRAEL TUESDAY, MEETING WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AND PRESIDENT ISAAC HERZOG IN THE WAKE OF THE DEATH OF HAMAS LEADER YAHYA SINWAR.

[VEDANT PATEL]

“SECRETARY BLINKEN WILL DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING THE WAR IN GAZA TO AN END, SECURING THE RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES AND ALLEVIATING THE SUFFERING OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. HE WILL CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS WITH COUNTERPARTS ON POST-CONFLICT PERIOD PLANNING AND EMPHASIZE THE NEED TO CHART A NEW PATH FORWARD THAT ENABLES PALESTINIANS TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND REALIZE THEIR ASPIRATIONS FREE FROM HAMAS TYRANNY.” 

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

BLINKEN IS ALSO EXPECTED TO PUSH FOR MORE HUMANITARIAN AID TO GET THROUGH TO GAZANS.

THE U-S IS REPORTEDLY OPTIMISTIC THE KILLING OF SINWAR LAST WEEK MAY SPUR MORE NEGOTIATIONS.

BUT ADMITS WASHINGTON DOESN’T KNOW IF ANYONE CAN NEGOTIATE ON HAMAS’ BEHALF WITHOUT A CLEAR LEADER.

BLINKEN WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSING PLANS TO DE-ESCALATE THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS IN LEBANON AS VIOLENCE INTENSIFIES IN THE REGION.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.