8. Can Blinken broker peace in West Asia?

Updated: Apr 29, 2024, 22:31 IST

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urged Hamas to swiftly accept an Israeli proposal for a truce in the Gaza war and the release of Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian militant group.

Mediation efforts

Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been engaged in efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas for several months, with recent diplomatic activities indicating a renewed push towards ending the conflict.

Negotiations and demands

A source briefed on the talks said Israel's proposal entailed a deal for the release of fewer than 40 of the roughly 130 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza in exchange for freeing Palestinians jailed in Israel, reports Reuters.
A second phase of a truce would consist of a "period of sustained calm" — Israel's compromise response to a Hamas demand for a permanent ceasefire.
A total of 253 hostages were seized in a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which about 1,200 Israelis were also killed, according to Israeli counts.

Urgency mounts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to target Rafah, Gaza's last unconquered city, heightens worries about worsening the humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by Israeli airstrikes that killed 22 people, including six women and five children, with one child just 5 days old.

International concern

The international community, including the United States, has expressed opposition to a potential Israeli offensive in Gaza, emphasising the need to protect civilians and pursue diplomatic solutions.

Meanwhile

Pro-Palestinian student protests at colleges across the U.S. have escalated, with demands to cut ties with Israel amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Tent encampments sparked tensions, leading to arrests and disruptions on campuses. Dialogue between protesters and academic leaders has stalled at some universities, impacting graduation ceremonies.
On Saturday, approximately 275 individuals were arrested at several campuses, such as Indiana University at Bloomington, Arizona State University, and Washington University in St Louis, bringing the nationwide total to nearly 900 since the arrests at Columbia University on April 18.

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