Blinken describes new US pressure at the UN for a ceasefire in Gaza

The United States has submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling for “an immediate ceasefire linked to the release of hostages” in Gaza, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. his last trip to Gaza. the region to mediate a diplomatic solution to the war between Israel and Hamas.

Biden administration officials have become more forceful in recent weeks in their push for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict, as humanitarian conditions in Gaza have reached crisis levels and political pressure for international action increases.

In an interview with Al Hadath, a Saudi-run news outlet, Mr. Blinken said he hoped other countries would support the U.S.-proposed resolution. “I think that would be a powerful message, a powerful signal,” he said.

The United States has angered many UN member states by vetoing three previous Security Council resolutions on cessation of fighting. The last vote in February said calling for an immediate ceasefire would hamper diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement to release hostages.

Last month, however, the Biden administration began circulating its own draft proposal that mentioned a ceasefire for the first time, albeit with different conditions. This indicated that the United States was more open to criticism of the way Israel is conducting its war in Gaza.

And in a speech in early March, Vice President Kamala Harris called for an “immediate ceasefire,” after months of more moderate language from administration officials focused on supporting a temporary halt or humanitarian pause in the war.

Mr. Blinken said in the interview on Wednesday that negotiations between Hamas and Israel, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, were “getting closer” to reaching an agreement. Negotiators have been in Qatar since Monday for the latest round of talks, after several previous attempts ended without results.

Hamas presented a new proposal last week that eliminates an earlier demand that Israel immediately agree to a permanent ceasefire in return for initiating an exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, people familiar with the negotiations said. Israeli officials said ahead of this week’s talks that the broad proposal under discussion includes a 42-day pause in exchange for the release of 40 of the more than 100 hostages taken from Israel and held in Gaza.

“I think the differences are narrowing, and I think an agreement is very possible,” Mr. Blinken said.