Israel agreed to withdraw troops from Gaza – Blinken

The US secretary of state has said that Washington would not accept a long-term occupation of the Palestinian enclave

Israel has agreed to withdraw its troops from parts of Gaza as part of ongoing attempts to reach a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday, following the latest round of negotiations in Qatar.

Speaking to reporters in Doha, Blinken was asked to comment on earlier reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had convinced Washington to allow Israel to keep its forces in the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza.

While he did not share any specific details about the ongoing talks, which are being mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, the secretary of state said that “the United States does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel,” and that the current agreement being discussed is “very clear on the schedule and the locations of (Israel Defense Forces) withdrawals from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to that.”

Blinken added that the latest proposal is “probably the best, possibly the last opportunity” to reach a ceasefire deal in the ten-month conflict, and said that Washington will do “everything possible to get it across the finish line.”

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His comments come after it was reported earlier this week that Netanyahu had told the families of fallen Israeli soldiers that West Jerusalem will under no circumstances leave the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt, and the Netzarim Corridor which runs between the northern and southern parts of the Palestinian enclave. He reportedly argued that these areas must be controlled to prevent weapons from being smuggled into the enclave.

The prime minister has refused to budge on the issue, according to Kan public broadcaster, despite demands from Israeli negotiators who have warned Netanyahu that his position is dooming the chances of reaching a deal.

Blinken also called on both Israel and Hamas to have “maximum flexibility” in order to reach a ceasefire agreement.

In light of Netanyahu’s insistence on remaining in the two corridors, Hamas issued a statement on Sunday rejecting the latest terms of the hostage-ceasefire deal discussed last week, specifically blaming the Israeli prime minister for placing new obstacles in the talks.

Hostilities broke out after the militant group Hamas launched a surprise incursion into southern Israel from Gaza on October 7 last year, resulting in the deaths of around 1,100 people, while 200 others were taken hostage. The massive Israeli military response has claimed more than 40,000 lives, while over 92,000 people have been wounded, according to Palestinian health officials.