Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday announced $135 million in new humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, and U.S. negotiators said they were willing to give Israel and Qatar their negotiators despite uncertainty over Hamas' participation. He said he would hold talks with the US and resume ceasefire negotiations.
Blinken said the humanitarian aid package for the Palestinians will be directed toward providing water sanitation and maternal health to Palestinians across the Gaza Strip.
Blinken made the comments alongside Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Qatar has served as one of the main intermediaries in negotiations with Hamas, and the Qatari government has hosted senior Hamas political officials in the capital.
“We expect to have negotiators in the next few days, but again, what we really have to decide is whether we're willing to engage with Hamas,” Blinken said. said.
“And I believe we will be able to do that in the coming days.”
Hamas has yet to announce a key figure in negotiations since the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces operating in the southern Gaza Strip on October 16. The United States says Mr. Shinwar is the main obstacle to reaching an agreement. The ceasefire agreement also includes the release of the remaining 101 hostages abducted from southern Israel during the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack.
“The reason I believe we have a chance now is because the biggest obstacle to a deal was Shinwar,” Blinken said. “And the fact that he's no longer with us probably creates an opportunity to actually move forward and get a deal done.”
Hamas political officials told The Hill on Wednesday that there has been no progress in negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
Qatar's prime minister said negotiators from the United States, Israel and Qatar will meet in Doha to discuss “means for a breakthrough in negotiations.”
