The Biden administration’s efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas through shuttle diplomacy continued on Tuesday as Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Egypt in another attempt to “establish broader regional security.”
The U.S., in collaboration with Egypt and Qatar, has been leading indirect negotiations aimed at ending the deadly war in Gaza, which has been ongoing for nearly a year following the horrific October 7 massacre by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,139 people and the abduction of 251 people from Israel.
However, the possibility of finding an end to the war during Blinken’s latest visit, his 10th trip to the Middle East since the October 2023 terrorist attacks, remains uncertain.
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters on Monday, during U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein’s visit to Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, that there is “no timeline” for a deal.
“We are working expeditiously to try to develop that proposal, [to] try to find something that would bring both the parties to say yes,” he added.
A ceasefire deal, which the Biden administration proposed last month, appears to have reached an impasse as both Hamas and Israel have made demands regarding access to the Philadelphi Corridor, a non-negotiable issue for both sides.
Blinken’s latest trip is not anticipated to result in any significant breakthroughs and comes just one day after Israel’s security cabinet expanded its war aims to include not only Hamas but also Hezbollah.
These goals, which already included the dismantling of Hamas’ military and government bodies in Gaza, the return of all hostages, and ensuring a safe environment for Israelis living along the southern border, now also include the safe return of approximately 60,000 Israeli citizens to their homes in the north.
Following the October 7 terrorist attacks, over 65,000 Israelis were evacuated from their homes along the northern border with Lebanon due to concerns that Hezbollah could carry out a similar Hamas-style attack.
Despite the devastating effects Hamas achieved in its gruesome attack last year, security experts have long warned that Hezbollah – which is financially and militarily stronger than Hamas – poses a greater threat to Israeli security.
In a late-night statement on Monday, Netanyahu’s office stated, “Israel will continue to take active measures” to achieve its new “goal” of returning citizens to their northern homes.
The statement followed comments made by both the prime minister and the defense minister on Monday that indicated Israel would be making security changes along its northern border.
Neither Netanyahu nor Gallant have provided details regarding these security changes, but both have made it clear to the U.S. that Israel will take the actions it believes are necessary for its security.
‘ Yonat Friling contributed to this article.