New ceasefire talks announced, Blinken’s new plan
Last Updated on October 26, 2024 5:39 am
The United States and Qatar announced the resumption of ceasefire talks in Gaza on Thursday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today that mediators have found a new way after months of failure.
Blinken is discussing a plan to end the Gaza war and release prisoners held by Hamas before the US election and in the next two weeks. He also said that efforts are being made to accelerate the talks after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week.
Blinken discussed this with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Thursday and said, “We discussed the next steps to seize this moment and move the process forward.”
Both are focused on a plan. The US Secretary of State mentioned that these included ensuring that Israel could withdraw its troops from Gaza, that Hamas could not regroup, and that the Palestinian people could rebuild their lives and future.
In this regard, the Qatari Prime Minister said that Israeli and US representatives would hold ceasefire talks in Doha. However, Blinken did not provide any details about the talks.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Israeli delegation would arrive in Doha on Sunday.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden presented a plan in May for the talks, which would pave the way for the release of prisoners held during the ceasefire. However, the talks stalled when Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted on ensuring the presence of Israeli troops on the Gaza-Egypt border.
Meanwhile, Qatari mediators have resumed contact with Hamas after Sinwar’s death. The Qatari prime minister said that there has been no clear direction from Hamas yet.
Blinken said that the United States is ready to discuss a new framework for Gaza and hopes that better direction will emerge from these new discussions.
Blinken also highlighted the importance of developing a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza and the post-war governance. He also announced an additional $135 million in aid for the Palestinians, bringing the total to $1.2 billion since the start of the war.
Source: Al Arabiya