Israel and Hamas at war, day 208 | The United States determined to obtain an agreement “now”

(Ashdod) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday called on Hamas to accept the new truce proposal in the Gaza Strip and reaffirmed Washington’s opposition to an offensive on the town of Rafah, which Israel says it wants to carry out no matter the cost.

Antony Blinken, who was continuing his seventh mission in the Middle East in Israel since the start of the war on October 7, said he was determined to reach an agreement “now” on a truce associated with the release of hostages held in the territory. Palestinian.

A rejection of this proposal by the Islamist movement would be proof that it has “not the slightest consideration” for the Palestinians, he later added.

“If Hamas really claims to care about the Palestinians and wants to see their suffering immediately alleviated, it should accept the agreement,” said Mr. Blinken, visiting the Israeli port of Ashdod, close to Gaza and recently reopened to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The mediating countries – Qatar, the United States and Egypt – are awaiting Hamas’ response to a latest proposal providing for a 40-day truce as well as the exchange of hostages for Palestinians held by Israel.

“Very clear conditions”

Hamas will respond “in a very short time,” assured Wednesday one of its political leaders, Souheil al-Hindi, while stressing that the movement still demanded a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israel from the Strip. Gaza.

Hamas is open “to all initiatives to end the war […]but subject to very clear conditions which cannot be waived,” he said.

According to an Israeli official, Israel had to wait until “Wednesday evening” for a response from Hamas before deciding whether it would send a delegation to Cairo with a view to a possible agreement.

“Even in these difficult times, we are determined to secure a ceasefire bringing the hostages home and to achieve it now. And the only reason why it wouldn’t happen is Hamas,” Blinken said while meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv.

At the end of November, a one-week truce allowed the release of 105 hostages, including 80 Israelis and dual nationals exchanged for 240 Palestinians detained by Israel.

Since then, attempts at mediation have been unsuccessful.

Hamas, which took power in Gaza in 2007, is demanding a “permanent” ceasefire before any agreement.

Israel refuses, saying it is determined to continue the offensive until “total victory” over the Islamist movement, which it considers a terrorist organization along with the United States and the European Union.

Expert Mairav ​​Zonszein of the International Crisis Group think tank told AFP she was “pessimistic about the option that Hamas would accept a deal that does not include a permanent ceasefire.” .

“Entering Rafah”

In Jerusalem, Mr. Blinken reiterated during an interview with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the American opposition to a ground offensive on Rafah, a city transformed into a huge refugee camp, on the southern edge of Palestinian territory.

The Secretary of State said he had suggested to Israel “better solutions” than a “major military operation” on Rafah, to “deal with” Hamas.

Mr. Netanyahu repeated Tuesday that he was determined to carry out this offensive on the city, which he considers to be the last major bastion of Hamas, despite the disapproval of the international community which fears heavy civilian losses among the 1.5 million of Palestinians massed in Rafah.

“The idea of ​​stopping the war before having achieved all our objectives is out of the question. We will enter Rafah and eliminate the Hamas battalions there, with or without a truce agreement, Mr. Netanyahu said.

The war broke out on October 7, when Hamas commandos infiltrated from the Gaza Strip in southern Israel carried out an attack which resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mainly civilians, according to an AFP report. based on official Israeli data.

More than 250 people have been kidnapped and 129 remain captive in Gaza, 34 of whom have died according to Israeli officials.

In retaliation, Israel vowed to annihilate Hamas and its army launched an offensive in the besieged territory, which has so far left 34,568 dead, mostly civilians, including 33 in 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry. of Hamas.

The Israeli air force notably carried out several strikes before dawn on Wednesday in the north and center of the Gaza Strip, including the Nusseirat refugee camp.

More debris than in Ukraine

The war which plunged Gaza into a “humanitarian hell”, according to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, also caused immense destruction in the small territory, where today there is more debris and rubble to be cleared only in Ukraine, said a UN demining operations official in Geneva on Wednesday.

The clearance of this enormous mass of 37 million tonnes, according to an estimate made in mid-April by the UN, is made more dangerous and more expensive by the presence of unexploded ordnance and asbestos, explained Mungo Birch, head of the UN Mine Action Service in Gaza.

In the territory where the UN fears widespread famine, international aid, strictly controlled by Israel, arrives in dribs and drabs mainly from Egypt via Rafah.

Before Ashdod, Antony Blinken visited Kerem Shalom, one of two aid crossing points from Israel, on Wednesday, as the United States pressures its ally to let in more cargo. .

Israel also opened the Erez crossing, providing access to the northern Gaza Strip for aid from Jordan.