On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that 90% of the terms for a cease-fire and hostage agreement in Gaza have been finalized, urging Israel and Hamas to resolve the remaining “critical issues.”
“Based on what I’ve seen, 90% of the agreement is settled, but a few key issues remain that need to be resolved, particularly how certain aspects of the deal will be implemented,” Blinken said during a press conference in Haiti.
He mentioned that recent discussions have focused on unresolved matters, such as the Philadelphi Corridor and the specifics of how hostages and prisoners will be exchanged.
“It’s now really up to both parties to reach an agreement on these last issues,” Blinken stated, noting the ongoing involvement of the U.S. alongside Egypt and Qatar in facilitating discussions. He indicated that a resolution to the outstanding concerns would be presented to Israel and Hamas soon.
Blinken stressed the urgency of finalizing the cease-fire, cautioning that delays increase the risk of unforeseen events derailing the progress. “Each day that passes without finalizing the agreement risks further complications,” he warned.
His comments followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of claims that 90% of the cease-fire and hostage deal had been agreed upon. Netanyahu dismissed the reports, calling them “completely inaccurate” in an interview with Fox News.
“There is no deal in the works,” Netanyahu said, adding that the situation is “unfortunately, not close.” He reiterated his opposition to withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor, a key strip of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt, citing concerns about potential smuggling by Hamas.
Hamas has continued to demand a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, including the Philadelphi Corridor, and the return of displaced Palestinians.
Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza began after Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,139 Israelis and around 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. In response, Gaza health authorities report that more than 40,800 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed, and nearly 94,400 injured.
Israel currently holds around 9,500 Palestinian prisoners, while approximately 101 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, though some are believed to have died in captivity.
