U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken announced on the 11th (local time) that he had obtained a commitment from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adhere to a ceasefire plan.
According to local foreign media, Secretary Blinken said in Tel Aviv, Israel, on the same day, "I met with Prime Minister Netanyahu last night and reaffirmed his promise to comply with the ceasefire proposal."
The ceasefire plan mentioned by Secretary Blinken is the three-phase ceasefire plan that President Joe Biden publicly disclosed on the 31st of last month, which Israel proposed.
The ceasefire plan consists of three phases: ▲ a complete ceasefire for six weeks, withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip, and partial hostage exchange ▲ exchange of all surviving hostages and withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, resulting in a permanent cessation of hostilities ▲ beginning reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and returning the bodies of deceased hostages.
Prime Minister Netanyahu did not issue a separate statement regarding his meeting with Secretary Blinken.
On the 11th (local time), Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, is answering reporters' questions in Tel Aviv, Israel. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Secretary Blinken interpreted Hamas’s welcoming and acceptance of the UN Security Council’s resolution supporting the three-phase ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip positively.
He said, "It is a hopeful sign, just like when President Biden announced the ceasefire plan ten days ago," adding, "Since the direction will be determined by the statements of Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip, we are waiting for their response."
Earlier, the Security Council held an emergency meeting the previous day and adopted a resolution supporting the ceasefire plan led by the United States, and Hamas also announced through a statement that it welcomed the resolution. However, Hamas maintained its position that conditions such as a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip must be accepted.
Local media reported that the ceasefire plan included Israel ending the war and withdrawing its troops, but the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office denied this as untrue. Secretary Blinken also emphasized, "Discussions regarding plans for the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire will continue from this afternoon for several days," adding, "These plans are absolutely necessary."
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