U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to key Hamas mediator Qatar on Thursday, seeking momentum to end the Gaza war following Israel's killing of the group's leader.
Two days after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Blinken flew from Saudi Arabia to the Qatari capital, Doha, to assess Hamas's position on a potential truce.
This marks Blinken's 11th trip to the region since October 7, 2023, amid repeated disappointments as he aims to halt the devastating Israeli retaliatory campaign in the Gaza Strip.
However, just days ahead of U.S. elections, President Joe Biden has found new hope after Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza.
U.S. officials had described Sinwar as intransigent in negotiations brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt regarding a ceasefire that would also facilitate the release of hostages from Gaza.
Blinken stated he discussed with Israeli leaders "the importance of determining whether Hamas is prepared to engage in moving forward, and the Egyptians and Qataris are doing just that."
"But I believe that with Sinwar gone, since he was the primary obstacle to realizing the hostage agreement, there is a real opportunity to bring them home and accomplish that objective," Blinken told reporters Wednesday as he left Israel.
Critics argue that the issue extends beyond Hamas to include the Biden administration's failure to press Israel, which has received a continuous flow of billions of dollars in U.S. weapons.
Hamas has yet to select a successor to Sinwar. Two Hamas sources told AFP this week that the group is moving toward appointing a ruling committee based in Doha rather than a single successor.
Blinken mentioned that a ceasefire plan laid out by Biden on May 31 remains on the table but also hinted at a willingness to explore "new frameworks" to seek the freedom of the more than 100 hostages.
Blinken is also looking for greater clarity on plans for the reconstruction and post-war governance of Gaza, viewing this as a vital component in efforts to end the war.
With AFP
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