U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has begun a new tour in the Middle East to achieve a "ceasefire in Gaza," following a proposal from President Joe Biden. This marks Blinken's eighth trip to the region since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza in October, and it will last three days, covering Egypt, Israel, Qatar, and Jordan. The trip raises questions about its role in resolving the complex "Gaza ceasefire" file, which has reached a critical stage politically, security-wise, and humanitarian-wise.
#### Obstacles to Aid
Blinken's first stop was in Cairo on Monday. After meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, he noted that Hamas is the only party that has not yet agreed to Biden’s proposal for a ceasefire, which Washington claims Israel has accepted. Before leaving Cairo for Israel, he stated, "My message to the governments and people of the region is if you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to agree." El-Sisi emphasized the necessity of removing obstacles to humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. The Egyptian presidency stated that el-Sisi stressed "the importance of international efforts to remove impediments to the implementation of humanitarian aid, the need to end the war on the Gaza Strip, prevent the escalation of the conflict, and move forward with the implementation of the two-state solution."
#### Israel's Crisis
On his way to Israel, Tel Aviv is experiencing a severe political crisis with the disintegration of the war council. Upon his arrival, Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid increasing internal Israeli criticism of the war's trajectory and the failure to achieve a swift and decisive victory, as envisioned by extremists in Tel Aviv. After more than eight months, while the Israeli government remains determined to continue the war, the Biden Administration is trying to conclude it according to Biden's proposed plan. As Israel continues its attacks in central and southern Gaza, among the deadliest incursions during this war, Hamas demands that the U.S. administration pressure Israel to cease its operations in Gaza, asserting its readiness to positively engage with any initiative that guarantees an end to the conflict.
#### Security Council Vote
In tandem with these developments, the United Nations Security Council has decided to vote on a U.S. draft resolution supporting the ceasefire proposal in Gaza. The final version of the text "welcomes" the ceasefire proposal announced by President Biden on May 31. Additionally, it confirms, unlike previous versions, that the proposal has been "accepted" by Israel, and calls for Hamas "to accept it as well and urges both parties to implement its terms fully without delay and without conditions." The proposal’s initial phase outlines a six-week ceasefire accompanied by an Israeli withdrawal from densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip, and the release of some hostages held since October 7 in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
