US State Sec Blinken heads to Egypt in bid to revive hostage deal talks with Hamas under new framework

U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken will return to the Middle East on Tuesday in a bid to revive the stalled talks regarding a hostage release and truce deal between Hamas and Israel.

However, this time he will skip the Jewish state and head straight to Cairo, Egypt, signaling that the issue of the Philadelphi Corridor remains a key sticking point in the negotiations.

“The Secretary will meet with Egyptian officials to discuss ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza that secures the release of all hostages, alleviates the suffering of the Palestinian people, and helps establish broader regional security,” the State Department announced regarding his trip. 

Since a high-level summit in Doha, Qatar about two weeks ago ended without a breakthrough, the talks appear to be stalled. Despite U.S. officials announcing that a final “bridging proposal” would be presented soon, it has yet to be unveiled.

“I would not say a deal is imminent,” a senior administration official told the Wall Street Journal. An Israeli official said, “I am optimistic it will happen but not any time soon.”

The Biden administration is reportedly delaying the presentation of a “final” proposal until it is reasonably certain it will be accepted, fearing that a rejection could lead to a complete breakdown of the talks.

U.S. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters the U.S. was working with Egypt and Qatar to ensure that “it’s a proposal that can get the parties to an ultimate agreement.”

Without presenting a timetable, Miller said, “We are working expeditiously to try to develop that proposal, try to find something that would bring both the parties to say ‘yes,’ and to formally submit it.”

According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, U.S. officials informed the families of American hostages that the framework underpinning the current round of negotiations had failed, and that mediators were seeking alternative approaches to reach an agreement.

However, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew recently admitted that the U.S. isn’t sure what Hamas is willing to accept.

“We are pressing as hard as we can, from the president down through the entire team to reach an agreement on a [Gaza] ceasefire and a hostage release,” Lew told attendees at the Haaretz National Security Conference on Monday.

“We don’t know what Hamas is willing to accept, and we’re pressing for Israel, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to bring together, as close as we can, one position in the end, to force a decision by Hamas,” he stated.

Lew also said that Israel had shown flexibility in the talks.

“The last indications we’ve had from the Government of Israel are that there’s flexibility on the key issues, and we need to drive it to closure,” he noted.