A senior U.S. administration official has responded critically to remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that his “maximalist statements” are counterproductive to reaching a ceasefire agreement. This development coincides with intensified regional diplomatic efforts led by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is working towards progress on a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
During a lengthy three-hour discussion in Jerusalem on Monday, Blinken engaged with Netanyahu and reported that the Israeli leader accepted a U.S. “bridging proposal” intended to address critical obstacles and facilitate negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
However, subsequent remarks by Netanyahu to hostage families indicated he had “convinced” Blinken that Israeli forces should remain in pivotal areas of Gaza, especially along the southern border with Egypt. These assertions reportedly unsettled U.S. officials.
A senior U.S. official, who requested anonymity, commented on Netanyahu’s statements, emphasizing, “We’re certainly not going to negotiate in public, but our priority is firmly focused on reaching a ceasefire agreement.” The official further explained that maximalist rhetoric could jeopardize the ongoing discussions and technical negotiations between the involved parties.
This commentary came after Blinken’s talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in El-Alamein, where Egyptian officials reportedly expressed strong opposition to the presence of Israeli troops along their border with Gaza.
Following his discussions in Egypt, Blinken continued to Qatar for additional dialogue, marking the conclusion of his Middle East tour. He shared that the U.S. bridging proposal included a comprehensive plan for the withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces from Gaza, with a clear schedule and specified locations, which he states that Israel has agreed to.
When questioned about Netanyahu’s claim of having convinced Blinken to maintain troops in Gaza, Blinken refrained from commenting on the report but reaffirmed that Israel endorsed the proposed plan, which outlines clear timelines for troop withdrawals.
Hamas, in response to the latest ceasefire proposals, characterized them as a deviation from earlier agreements and emphasized its position that any ceasefire framework in Gaza should be based on the status of the negotiations conducted in July, rather than being influenced by new discussions.
