Blinken urges Hamas to accept ‘bridging proposal’ agreed to by Israel

William Brangham:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel today and said this week's talks about a cease-fire in Gaza and a hostage release were — quote — "the best, maybe the last opportunity to release those hostages and at least pause this war."

Nick Schifrin is here and he has been following this all along.

Nick, what is the state of these current talks?

Nick Schifrin:

Blinken said today that Israel had accepted language designed to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas. This is Blinken speaking today earlier to reporters in Tel Aviv.

Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State: The critical next step is for Hamas to accept the bridging proposal that Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu, has now accepted and then to engage with everyone else on making sure that we have clear understandings of how each party would actually implement the commitments that it's undertaken in this agreement.

Nick Schifrin:

So what does that mean?

Recall that there is an overall agreement on the framework for the first phase, a six-week cease-fire, the release of more than 30 hostages from Hamas and 700 Palestinian detainees from Israel and the humanitarian aid surge in Gaza with a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

But, William, regional officials tell me that the two sides remain far apart, especially over changes that Israel has demanded in the last six weeks that this bridging proposal language is designed to overcome.

That includes, number one, this. Israel insists on control of Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor. That is between Gaza and Egypt. Hamas this weekend called that — quote — "an obstruction" to reaching an agreement.

Number two, checkpoints inside Gaza to screen Gazans moving from south to north. Number three, Israel is insisting that the more than 30 hostages released in the first round all be alive. That is new. That was not part of the last deal. And U.S. officials do not believe there are enough female, elderly, or infirm hostages to release that number, so actually American hostages might be moved higher than the list.

And, number four, Israel is insisting on being able to veto the release of certain Palestinian detainees, something Hamas again called — quote — "new conditions and demands."

And, overall, the public statements from both sides really reveal that the gaps remain. Here's Netanyahu speaking today — quote — "I greatly appreciate the understanding that the U.S. has shown for our vital security interests."

But Hamas yesterday said — quote — "The new proposal responds to Netanyahu's conditions, aligns with them."

Tonight, William, Hamas has just given an interview saying that they have already conceded what Israel said was enough and they are not in the mood for any new conditions.

William Brangham:

So why is it making this deal perhaps this week so critical?

Nick Schifrin:

U.S. officials believe that if there is no deal this week, Iran and Hezbollah are likely to follow through on their vow to attack Israel for two high-profile assassinations in Tehran and Beirut, one of which Israel accepted publicly, one of which they did not.

That attack would likely derail instantly any of these talks about Gaza, because U.S. officials still believe that the best way to forestall an Iranian attack and, frankly, perhaps a war between Hezbollah and Israel is a cease-fire in Gaza.

William Brangham:

Nick Schifrin, as always, thank you so much.

Nick Schifrin:

Thank you.