Blinken Expresses Hope for Gaza Ceasefire but Avoids Predictions

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday expressed cautious optimism about achieving a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, though he refrained from making any guarantees of success. Blinken emphasized his commitment to pursuing peace during his final month in office, as his tenure concludes on January 20.

“Look, I’m hopeful. You have to be. We’re going to use every minute of every day of every week that we have left to try to get this done,” Blinken said during remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations. However, he declined to estimate the chances of success, adding, “It should happen. It needs to happen. We need to get people home,” referring to the release of hostages as part of any ceasefire agreement.

The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, following a large-scale Hamas attack on Israel, has resulted in significant casualties and destruction. Official Israeli figures report 1,208 deaths, predominantly civilians, from the Hamas assault. In response, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has caused at least 45,097 fatalities, with a majority being civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry, considered reliable by the United Nations. The offensive has also displaced over 1.9 million Palestinians, about 90% of Gaza’s population, and reduced much of the enclave to rubble.

Blinken noted that Hamas’s willingness to negotiate appears influenced by setbacks to its sponsor, Iran. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s administration has faced criticism from progressive Democrats for not leveraging its military aid to Israel to exert greater pressure.

The Secretary of State reiterated the importance of a post-war governance structure for Gaza that would prevent Israel from becoming entangled in long-term control or insurgencies. “Gaza has to be translated into something different that ensures that Hamas is not in any way in charge, that Israel doesn’t have to be, and that there’s something coherent that follows,” Blinken said.

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, he has pledged strong support for Israel while also signaling interest in brokering a resolution. The Biden administration continues its efforts to secure an end to the conflict, despite the complexities and setbacks in the region.