US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Wednesday evening that his country had submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council supporting “an immediate ceasefire linked to the release of the hostages” in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, since Washington used its veto against a draft resolution submitted by Algeria calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for humanitarian reasons in late February, American officials have held discussions on the text of an alternative law that focuses on supporting the ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a truce and release hostages in the Gaza Strip. So what do we know about him?
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The US Secretary of State reported Anthony Blinken In an interview with the Saudi Al-Hadath channel on Wednesday evening, the United States submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council supporting an “immediate ceasefire linked to the release of the hostages” in the Gaza Strip.
The American Minister said during his visit to: Saudi Arabia To discuss pacification efforts The war between Israel and Hamas “We have already submitted a draft resolution, which is now before the Security Council, and calls for an immediate ceasefire linked to the release of the hostages, and we very much hope that it will receive support from countries.” He also expressed his belief that this project “will send a strong message, with a strong indicator.”
The United States, the most prominent supporter of Israel politically and militarily in this war, had previously used its veto in the Security Council to prevent the issuance of a ceasefire resolution in the Gaza Strip.
In addition, since use Washington veto Against a draft resolution submitted by Algeria calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on humanitarian grounds in late February, US officials held discussions on an alternative text focusing on supporting ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a six-week truce in exchange for the release of hostages still being held by Hamas in sector.
According to diplomatic sources, the chances of approving the project were slim, and a new formula was distributed to members of the Security Council on Wednesday.
What does the modified formula mean?
The amended wording, a copy of which was seen by Agence France-Presse, speaks about “the need for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides and allow the delivery of basic humanitarian assistance and alleviate human suffering, and to this end, it categorically supports the ongoing international diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire.” “This is related to the release of all remaining hostages.”
Blinken also explained in his interview with Al-Hadath TV, saying, “Of course we stand by Israel and its right to defend itself… but at the same time, it is necessary that we focus on civilians who are being harmed and suffering horribly, and make them a priority for us,” stressing the necessity of “ Protecting civilians and delivering humanitarian aid to them.”
It is noteworthy that Blinken met in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, and will head to Egypt on Thursday for the second stop of his sixth tour in the region since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on the seventh of last October. He will visit the Hebrew state on Friday.
Arab foreign ministers meet with Blinken
The foreign ministers of Arab countries and a prominent Palestinian official are scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Cairo on Thursday, as the US minister seeks to stop the fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip during his latest visit to the region.
A memorandum from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed that Blinken will meet with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE Minister of International Cooperation, and the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
The memorandum did not include details about the subject of the meeting, but Egyptian security sources said that the Arab countries would present plans for a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Such plans were on hold while mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States sought to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Blinken said that during his visit, he would continue talks on governance and security arrangements, post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza, and achieving lasting regional peace.
Troubled negotiations…
The American Minister’s visit comes at a time when… Qatar Discussions led by mediators Washington, Doha, and Cairo, with the aim of reaching a truce in the fighting, conducting an exchange between hostages held in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, and introducing more aid to the besieged Strip, where most of the population faces the risk of starvation.
For its part, Hamas said on Wednesday that it had received a “generally negative” response from Israel to its proposal based, in the first stage, on a six-week truce in exchange for the release of hostages and detainees.
The war broke out on October 7th, following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel that killed at least 1,160 people, most of them civilians, according to a tally prepared by the French news agency based on official Israeli figures.
Israel estimates that approximately 130 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, 33 of whom are believed to have died, out of approximately 250 people kidnapped in the attack.
Israel responded with a sustained, concentrated bombing campaign followed by a massive ground attack, killing 31,923 people and wounding 74,096, most of them women and children, according to the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip.
France 24/AFP/Reuters
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