WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday a long-sought ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas was within sight, saying negotiators were “driving toward the goal line.”
The United States has been working with Qatar and Egypt to try to arrange a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict in order to free hostages held since Oct. 7 and get more humanitarian aid into the enclave.
Blinken told the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado that Hamas and Israel had agreed to the ceasefire framework outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden in May after a lot of pushing and diplomacy, but said that some issues needed to be resolved.
“I believe we’re inside the 10-yard line and driving toward the goal line in getting an agreement that would produce a ceasefire, get the hostages home and put us on a better track to trying to build lasting peace and stability,” Blinken said.
“There remains some issues that need to be resolved, that need to be negotiated. We’re in the midst of doing exactly that.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to Washington next week and address a joint session of the U.S. Congress on July 24. Biden expects to meet him, depending on the president’s recovery from COVID-19, the White House said on Thursday.
Blinken, asked about Netanyahu’s visit, said Washington wants to bring the ceasefire agreement over the finish line. He added that it was critical there was a clear plan for what follows and that discussions with Netanyahu would likely center around that.
Israel vowed to eradicate Hamas after the group’s fighters killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostage in an Oct. 7 attack, according to Israeli tallies. At least 38,848 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive since then, Gaza health authorities say.
(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Katharine Jackson, Phil Stewart; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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