Uncertain of ceasefire after hostage release, US Secretary of State visits Egypt to continue urging

According to observers, the possibility of a ceasefire after the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip is very vague. In a related development, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Egypt to promote efforts for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

The Gaza war continues to be complicated, causing many casualties. Photo taken of a road in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, August 17. (Source: Reuters)

The Washington Post quoted diplomats familiar with the matter as saying that the content of a potential deal to release hostages in the Gaza Strip is vague, so the deal is unlikely to lead to a lasting ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Even if an agreement is reached, there are doubts that the document will end the conflict in Gaza due to ambiguity in its wording, the newspaper said.

According to the Washington Post , it is expected that after Hamas releases most of the hostages, Israel and Hamas will negotiate a permanent ceasefire within the first six weeks of the temporary ceasefire. However, sources said that if Israel determines that the negotiations have failed, it could resume military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that Mr. Netanyahu is continuing to push for an agreement to maximize the number of hostages released, while emphasizing that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will remain in the corridor on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

Regarding efforts to promote a ceasefire in Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on August 18 and is expected to visit Egypt on August 20, to discuss the indirect negotiation process between Israel and the Hamas movement.

Negotiations to reach a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas are at a “critical juncture” and Mr. Blinken will emphasize to all parties the importance of reaching an agreement, according to a senior U.S. administration official.

After months of protracted negotiations, mediators from Qatar, the US and Egypt have so far failed to reach a ceasefire agreement, as the Gaza war continues to develop in a complicated manner, causing many casualties.

Gaza ceasefire talks are set to resume this week in Cairo, following two days of talks in Doha last week. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will try to achieve a breakthrough after Washington presented new proposals that mediators believe will bridge the gap between the sides.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/xung-dot-o-gaza-chua-chac-ngung-ban-sau-khi-tha-hostage-ngoai-truong-my-den-ai-cap-tiep-tuc-doc-thuc-283135.html