Blinken Announces Israel's Agreement to Withdraw Military Units from Gaza

According to SAEDNEWS, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made it clear during his diplomatic visit to Qatar that the United States does not endorse any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel. "The agreement is very clear on the schedule and the locations of withdrawals from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to that," Blinken stated, while refraining from providing further details on the agreement.

Blinken also revealed that he received the Israeli government's endorsement of the agreement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just a day prior to his remarks, as reported by TASS.

His visit to Qatar is part of a wider West Asia tour aimed at advancing discussions to conclude the ongoing Gaza war, which has persisted for almost ten months. Despite the United Nations special rapporteurs on Palestinian affairs criticizing Washington's ongoing support for Israel amidst accusations of genocide, the U.S. maintains that Blinken's trip is focused on "establishing a ceasefire in Gaza."

Recent proposals from Washington emerged following discussions held in Doha last week. In the lead-up to these talks, Hamas urged mediators to adhere to the framework established by U.S. President Joe Biden in late May, instead of pursuing further negotiations.

Hamas has voiced skepticism regarding the proposed terms, with a member of its political bureau, Sami Abu Zuhri, describing U.S. optimism about the prospects for a deal as an "illusion," and arguing that the current U.S. proposal aligns closely with Netanyahu's conditions. As geopolitical tensions simmer, all eyes remain on the unfolding diplomatic efforts in the region.