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Blinken Urges Israel and Hamas to Move Ahead with a Ceasefire Deal, Says ‘Time Is Now’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the press at the port of Ashdod in southern Israel on May 1, 2024. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the press at the port of Ashdod in southern Israel on May 1, 2024. (AFP)
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Blinken Urges Israel and Hamas to Move Ahead with a Ceasefire Deal, Says ‘Time Is Now’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the press at the port of Ashdod in southern Israel on May 1, 2024. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the press at the port of Ashdod in southern Israel on May 1, 2024. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli leaders Wednesday in his push for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, saying "the time is now" for an agreement that would free hostages and bring a pause in the nearly seven months of war in Gaza.

Blinken is on his seventh visit to the region since the war erupted in October, aiming to secure what’s been an elusive deal between Israel and Hamas that could avert an Israeli incursion into the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where some 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering.

The current round of talks appears to be serious, but the sides remain far apart on one key issue — whether the war should end as part of an emerging deal.

Before agreeing to an initial, short-term ceasefire and partial hostage release, Hamas wants assurances that the eventual freeing of all the hostages will bring the end of Israel’s offensive and its full withdrawal from Gaza.  

Israel has offered only a pause after which it would resume its offensives until Hamas is destroyed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his determination to attack Rafah in talks with Blinken on Wednesday.

Blinken put pressure on Hamas, saying it would bear the blame for any failure to get a deal. Hamas said in a statement it would likely reply to the latest proposal on Thursday.

"We are determined to get a ceasefire that brings the hostages home and to get it now, and the only reason that that wouldn’t be achieved is because of Hamas," Blinken told Israel’s ceremonial President Isaac Herzog at a meeting in Tel Aviv.

"There is a proposal on the table, and as we’ve said, no delays, no excuses. The time is now," he said.

Blinken said the deal would also allow much needed food, medicine and water to get into Gaza, where the war has sparked a humanitarian crisis and displaced much of the territory’s population.

Still, Netanyahu's vow to carry out a military operation in Rafah, which Israel says is the last major Hamas stronghold showed the remaining challenges in the talks.

"The operation in Rafah doesn’t depend on anything. The prime minister made this clear to Secretary Blinken," Netanyahu’s office said after the two met Wednesday. A day earlier, Netanyahu pledged to move on Rafah "with or without" a ceasefire deal.

The United States has staunchly supported Israel’s campaign of bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza since Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel. But it has grown increasingly critical of the staggering toll borne by Palestinian civilians and has been outspoken against an assault on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million has packed in and around the town after fleeing fighting elsewhere in the territory.

Washington says it opposes a major offensive but that if Israel conducts one it must first evacuate civilians.

In Rafah, Palestinians terrified of a potential Israeli invasion clung to hope that, after months of reported near-deals, this time a ceasefire would be sealed. Hundreds of thousands are living in vast tent camps filling the once empty areas around Rafah

Salwa Abu Hatab, a woman who fled Khan Younis, said she wants to go home. "Do you think we like life in tents? We are tired and suffering," she said. "Every day they say there is a truce and negotiations, and in the end it fails. We hope they will succeed this time."

"If the invasion happens, we do not know where to go," said Enas Syam, a woman from Gaza City carrying her child in the camp. "There is no safe place left."

In his talks with Netanyahu, Blinken urged him to build on what he said has been the "improvement" in the delivery of aid to Gaza over the past month. Bowing to US pressure to increase aid deliveries, Israel re-opened its Erez crossing into the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday for the first time since it was damaged in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.

Throughout his regional visit, with previous stops in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Blinken urged Hamas to accept the latest ceasefire proposal, calling it "extraordinarily generous" on Israel’s part.

The proposal — brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar — would put a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza up for discussion, according to leaked details confirmed by an Egyptian official and a Hamas official.

The proposal lays out three stages of six to seven weeks each with a detailed timetable of steps. The first phase would bring a pause during which Hamas would release some hostages, particularly civilian women, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Israeli troops would withdraw from a coastal road in Gaza to facilitate passage of aid and the return of displaced people to the north, then the troops would withdraw from central Gaza. In the meantime, talks would start on restoring "a permanent calm," the Egyptian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the internal negotiations.

The next stage would bring implementation of the calm, including Hamas’ release of all remaining hostages – soldiers and civilians – and a withdrawal of Israeli forces out of Gaza.

The last stage would see the release of bodies of dead hostages and the start of a five-year reconstruction plan. The plan says that Hamas would agree not to rebuild its military arsenal. The details were first reported in the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is close to Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah armed group.

The Egyptian official said Hamas wanted the language of the second phase to be strengthened to specify a "complete Israeli withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip" to avoid different interpretations. It also wants clearer terms for the unconditional return of displaced people to the north of Gaza, since the current outline didn’t fully explain who would be allowed back, the official said.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continued. Late Tuesday, a strike hit a house in Rafah — where strikes have been continual despite the masses of Palestinians taking refuge there — killing at least two children, according to hospital authorities. An Associated Press journalist saw the children’s bodies at Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital as their relatives mourned the deaths.

On Wednesday, Israel’s military said it was operating in central Gaza, where it said jets struck militants, including one said to be setting up explosives.

The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by the unprecedented Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel in which gunmen killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 hostages. Israel says the fighters are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

The war in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The war has driven around 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes, caused vast destruction in several towns and cities and pushed northern Gaza to the brink of famine.

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Arab World

Sudan’s Burhan Rules Out Talks with RSF or ‘Any Other Party’

Wreckage of a drone allegedly used in an attack on Damazin (activists’ Facebook pages). 
Wreckage of a drone allegedly used in an attack on Damazin (activists’ Facebook pages). 
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Sudan’s Burhan Rules Out Talks with RSF or ‘Any Other Party’

Wreckage of a drone allegedly used in an attack on Damazin (activists’ Facebook pages). 
Wreckage of a drone allegedly used in an attack on Damazin (activists’ Facebook pages). 

Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has reiterated his refusal to negotiate with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) or “any other party,” vowing to continue military operations despite renewed US efforts to secure a political settlement.

His remarks came after Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, announced that he had met Burhan in Egypt earlier this week.

Meanwhile, a drone attack on Damazin, the capital of Blue Nile state, killed four women and wounded dozens of civilians, according to a Sudanese human rights group.

Addressing residents of Amri locality in Northern state on Tuesday, Burhan declared: “There will be no negotiations with the rebels or with any other party,” without specifying whom else he meant.

“We are a state of institutions. Decisions on negotiations, peace and war are therefore made by the Security and Defense Council,” he added, according to a statement from the Sovereignty Council’s media office.

Burhan, who heads the Sovereignty Council and commands the armed forces, reaffirmed his determination to continue what he described as efforts to defeat and eliminate the rebellion.

He also praised Amri residents for supporting the army and the Popular Resistance, reiterating the military’s commitment to what it calls the “Battle of Dignity.”

Deadly drone attack

Hours after Burhan’s remarks, Emergency Lawyers, a volunteer human rights organization, reported that drones belonging to the RSF had struck civilian sites in Damazin early Wednesday.

The strikes hit homes and a mosque, killing four women in the Al-Hijra neighborhood and wounding dozens of civilians, the group alleged.

Its statement provided no further details about the wounded or how it had established responsibility for the attack.

Emergency Lawyers warned against continued attacks on civilian sites, stressing that deliberately targeting them constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

The organization demanded an end to the attacks and accountability for those responsible, urging all parties to the conflict to respect civilian protections and avoid endangering lives.

Neither the army nor the RSF issued a comment, although platforms aligned with the paramilitary group reported that the drones had targeted the homes of the finance and information ministers.

In a separate statement, Damazin Technical College condemned a two-drone attack on its campus, reporting damage to classrooms, administrative offices, laboratories, and other infrastructure.

Diplomatic efforts

Burhan’s rejection of negotiations came less than a day after Boulos announced that he had attended a lunch hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in New Alamein, on the sidelines of an African Union coordination meeting, where he met the Sudanese leader.

In a post on X on Monday, Boulos reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to working with regional and international partners toward a political settlement that would help end Sudan’s war and alleviate the country’s humanitarian suffering.

He emphasized US support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to Boulos, the diplomatic efforts aim to restore security and stability, begin reconstruction and development, and facilitate a transition to a civilian-led government through an inclusive national dialogue owned and led by the Sudanese people.

In a television interview last September, Boulos maintained that Washington engaged with both sides in Sudan’s conflict without formally recognizing either.

He also stressed that his meetings with Burhan did not constitute recognition of the Sudanese government.

However, in his latest X post, Boulos referred to Burhan by his official title, “Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council,” wording that some interpreted as tacit recognition.

Boulos has argued that maintaining contact with both warring parties is essential to reaching a peaceful settlement and facilitating humanitarian aid deliveries.

His remarks followed a Sept. 22 statement by US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, who declared that neither the Sudanese army nor the RSF and their leaders represented a legitimate constitutional government of Sudan.

Pigott also affirmed Washington’s readiness to work with partners committed to peace.

The diplomatic exchanges coincided with Washington’s refusal to grant Burhan a visa to attend the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York.

Reuters reported at the time, citing a Sudanese diplomatic source and a Western analyst, that Burhan’s participation had been made conditional on his acceptance of a 90-day truce proposed by Boulos. The US State Department declined to comment.

Arab World

Iraq Warns of ISIS Resurgence after Attacks North of Baghdad

A member of the Iraqi security forces in Baghdad (AFP)
A member of the Iraqi security forces in Baghdad (AFP)
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Iraq Warns of ISIS Resurgence after Attacks North of Baghdad

A member of the Iraqi security forces in Baghdad (AFP)
A member of the Iraqi security forces in Baghdad (AFP)

Iraqi officials warned Wednesday of an ISIS resurgence after a series of attacks on security forces in rural areas north of Baghdad left several personnel dead or wounded, prompting authorities to impose a nighttime curfew in parts of Kirkuk province.

Security sources said the second battalion of the Popular Mobilization Forces’ 61st Brigade came under armed attack late Tuesday in the village of Al-Barghaliya–Al-Dandish in Hawija district, southwest of Kirkuk.

A sniper disabled a thermal imaging camera at a military position, triggering search operations in the village and surrounding areas to track down the attackers.

The assault came a day after an attack on the Federal Police’s Ninth Brigade in the same village killed one person and wounded four others. Several thermal imaging cameras were also destroyed, according to a security source.

The Federal Police Command identified the slain officer as Bakr Majid Mohammed, who was killed while confronting ISIS militants attempting to storm his guard post in Al-Barghaliya in Hawija district.

The position falls within the operational area of the third battalion of the Ninth Brigade, Federal Police Third Division.

Nighttime curfew

In response to the attacks, Federal Police authorities imposed a curfew across Hawija and its villages from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The restrictions prohibit movement during those hours, with tighter controls on motorcycles, cars and cargo motorcycles. The latter may operate only in essential cases with official authorization.

Residents were urged to comply with the measures and cooperate with security forces, while authorities warned that violations could result in legal action.

Security was also tightened around farms and villages near Federal Police positions, with restrictions on the movement of farmers whose land lies close to security deployments.

Ahmed Ramzi Koprulu, chairman of the Kirkuk Provincial Council’s Security and Defense Committee, said that the Hawija attack underscored the continuing threat posed by ISIS sleeper cells.

He called for stronger intelligence gathering and intensified security operations to prevent further attacks.

Speaking to Shafaq News, Koprulu stressed the need to prevent militants from regrouping or exploiting remote areas to target security forces and civilians. He also urged closer coordination and intelligence-sharing among security agencies.

On Monday, ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack southwest of Kirkuk city that killed an Iraqi police officer and wounded others.

It was the group’s first attack on Iraqi security forces since US troops completed their withdrawal from Iraq on Sept. 30, bringing their military mission in the country to an end.

On the day of the withdrawal, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi called for heightened vigilance, constant readiness and closer coordination among security forces.

He also asked security agencies to update their operational plans, procedures and databases and make greater use of modern technology to maintain stability nationwide.

How serious is the threat?

Despite the recent violence, security experts played down ISIS’s ability to regain control of territory.

Security analyst Sarmad al-Bayati told Asharq Al-Awsat that the group, or what remains of it, could still threaten military units in some areas because it possesses weapons and explosive belts.

However, he argued that it no longer poses a threat to Iraq’s overall national security.

Bayati described the Hawija incidents as limited attacks by sleeper cells, suggesting they could nevertheless be used for political purposes amid the debate over the US withdrawal and efforts to disarm armed factions.

Security expert Mukhlid Hazem also dismissed the prospect of ISIS staging a resurgence on the scale of its 2014 offensive.

He said the group’s capabilities were now largely confined to deploying small armed units in scattered areas, while Iraqi security forces worked to contain them through preemptive operations.

“The organization’s attacks coinciding with the US withdrawal are merely an attempt to demonstrate that it still exists,” Hazem told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He added that ISIS was no longer capable of carrying out attacks in city centers, even where it retained local support networks.

Still, he urged caution over the possibility of larger militant groups attempting to mobilize.

Political science professor Abbas Abboud pointed to significant improvements in Iraq’s intelligence capabilities compared with previous years, arguing that these advances reduced the likelihood of ISIS expanding its operations.

He cautioned, however, that threats could also emerge from other terrorist groups enlisted by various parties to advance specific objectives.

Arab World

Houthis Accused of Stripping Western Yemen of Power Equipment, Property

The Houthis seized food aid in Mokha and redistributed it in exchange for loyalty (Houthi media)
The Houthis seized food aid in Mokha and redistributed it in exchange for loyalty (Houthi media)
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Houthis Accused of Stripping Western Yemen of Power Equipment, Property

The Houthis seized food aid in Mokha and redistributed it in exchange for loyalty (Houthi media)
The Houthis seized food aid in Mokha and redistributed it in exchange for loyalty (Houthi media)

The Houthis have expanded their systematic seizure of public and private property in areas under their control along Yemen’s western coast, including Hodeidah province and parts of Taiz, according to local sources, who accuse the group of treating cities and public facilities as spoils to be transferred to their strongholds.

The latest reported seizures involved equipment and solar panels from two power stations in the Hays and Al-Khawkhah districts of Hodeidah province. The installations were dismantled and their components transported to Saada, the group’s main stronghold, depriving thousands of residents of electricity and worsening hardship amid deteriorating services and high temperatures in coastal areas.

Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Gharsan al-Matari, a Houthi leader acting as Hodeidah’s electricity director, instructed members of the group several days ago to dismantle both solar power systems and transport all their components, equipment and technical supplies to Saada aboard large trucks.

The two installations had supplied approximately 20 megawatts of electricity, helping power homes and ease hardship for residents, particularly in coastal communities where temperatures are high.

According to the sources, the incident reflects a broader pattern of seizures targeting public utilities and private property in areas brought under Houthi control.

Other service infrastructure, equipment and networks are also being dismantled and transferred to Saada and Sanaa rather than remaining in the communities they were intended to serve, they added.

An economy of spoils

Activists from Hodeidah described the transfer of electricity equipment from Hays and Al-Khawkhah as an example of what they called an “economy of spoils,” accusing the Houthis of treating areas under their control as sources of assets to be appropriated.

Residents are paying the price through the loss of essential services, they argued, while resources are concentrated in the group’s centers of power.

In the coastal district of Mokha, local sources reported continuing seizures and looting that began within hours of the Houthis taking control of the city, targeting homes, government facilities, humanitarian organizations and charitable associations.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthi members raided dozens of houses and apartments, particularly in the Al-Hali neighborhood and December 2 City, removing furniture, household appliances and other belongings before loading them onto trucks and transporting them out of the city.

Government premises were also targeted, including the local authority headquarters and the city’s branch of the Central Bank of Yemen.

The reported looting extended to commercial establishments.

Eyewitnesses recounted seeing Houthi patrols repeatedly transporting food supplies and consumer goods from wholesale stores in central Mokha to locations outside the city.

Local activists indicated that the seizures took place under the supervision of unidentified individuals believed to be linked to the group’s security and intelligence agencies.

Shops broken into in Al-Turbah

In Al-Turbah, the administrative center of Al-Shamayatayn district in southwestern Taiz province, local sources accused the Houthis of following the same pattern, targeting government institutions, private homes and figures associated with the Yemeni government.

Several shopkeepers closed their businesses as the group entered the city, fearing looting. But residents reported that some of the shuttered premises were forcibly broken into.

According to their accounts, Houthi members broke down the doors of several shops and seized merchandise, apparently in retaliation for the owners’ decision to close their businesses during the group’s entry into the city.

The successive incidents point to what residents and activists describe as a recurring pattern of seizures extending beyond damage directly caused by fighting.

They accuse the Houthis of stripping cities of essential infrastructure and economic assets and transferring them to areas under the group’s control, further undermining public services and worsening living conditions.