Gaza ceasefire talks to resume this week as Blinken says Israel accepts US-made deal
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00:00Before leaving Israel, the U.S. Secretary of State pressed Benjamin Netanyahu to agree
00:05to a ceasefire when talks resume in Egypt later this week.
00:09On his ninth visit to the Middle East since October 7th, Antony Blinken warned that the
00:14window for a workable truce could be closing.
00:18There is, I think, a real sense of urgency here, across the region, on the need to get
00:24this over the finish line.
00:26In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to
00:31me that Israel accepts the bridging proposal, that he supports it.
00:36It's now incumbent on Hamas to do the same.
00:39The differences remain between Israel and Hamas.
00:42Netanyahu is insisting that Israel maintains control over two strategic corridors within
00:48Gaza.
00:49Hamas rejects this as a non-starter and wants the framework proposed by the Biden administration
00:54in April, which Israel has refused.
00:57Relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza are also sceptical about the hopes of a ceasefire
01:03panning out.
01:05I expect nothing from this meeting because our prime minister is blocking the hostage
01:14deal.
01:16In the city of Khan Younis in Gaza, Palestinians cast doubt on the influence wielded by the
01:21Americans over a deal.
01:24Blinken's visit to Israel will not change anything.
01:27We hear this every time but it's not true, it's the complete opposite.
01:32Today in the Gaza Strip we're suffering badly because of the Americans.
01:36This visit is, as usual, just to check on Israel and provide it with weapons and logistic
01:40matters.
01:41The latest ceasefire proposal would freeze fighting for an initial six weeks as hostages
01:46in Gaza are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and humanitarian aid enters
01:52the Strip.
01:53But there are other areas that need to be hammered out in the coming weeks in Cairo.