Seven visits to Israel in almost seven months of war for Antony Blinken who today held a two and a half hour conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The position of the head of American diplomacy is clear: Hamas must accept the truce agreement associated with the release of the hostages. A message that the US Secretary of State also repeated publicly to the demonstrators who warmly welcomed him in front of his hotel and to the families of the hostages: “We will not stop until you are reunited with your loved ones. Have faith, we will work every day to achieve the goal.”
According to rumours, Hamas is considering a mediation proposal which provides for a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the release of around thirty hostages. However, strong disagreements remain, especially on what would happen at the end of the truce. For Blinken, a refusal by Hamas would be proof that it does not have “the slightest consideration for the Palestinians”. Meanwhile, the Israeli press reports, Netanyahu would have repeated to the US foreign minister what he already openly declared yesterday: that is, that, regardless of an agreement, his army will enter the city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of refugees have found refuge in recent months Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced in a speech to his supporters his intention to interrupt diplomatic relations with Israel starting tomorrow, Thursday, calling Netanyahu “a genocide”. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz spoke out about X, calling Petro an “anti-Semitic and hateful” leader.
And the tension linked to the conflict in Gaza has also caused violent protests in some American universities, including the University of California in Los Angeles, where the demonstration turned into a clash between Palestinian supporters and those of Israel. The police intervened, arresting hundreds of students and dismantling the encampment symbolizing the occupation of the campus. Brown University in Providence has instead reached an agreement with its students, which includes a vote on possible disinvestment from companies involved in the conflict in Gaza.
