China News Service, Beijing, February 7. Comprehensive news: According to the official website of the U.S. White House, from the 4th to the 8th local time, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken visited many countries in the Middle East in an attempt to promote a new agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). ceasefire agreement. On the evening of the 6th local time, Hamas issued a statement saying that it had responded to a new round of agreement on the exchange of detained persons.
This is Blinken’s fifth trip to the Middle East since the outbreak of a new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict. According to the White House, the goals of this trip include trying to broker a new ceasefire agreement, continuing to promote the release of all detained persons, and preventing the expansion of the conflict.
A report by Qatar's Al Jazeera described the visit as "discussing old issues" and "hoping to achieve a new truce." The report pointed out that, including issues that have been discussed before, multiple issues may now have to be discussed within the same framework due to mutual influence. Some problems change in facts, conditions, and circumstances and require different approaches.
According to foreign media reports, Blinken visited Saudi Arabia on the 5th and Egypt and Qatar on the 6th. He held talks with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Egyptian President Sisi and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed respectively.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement stating that it has expressed its firm position to the US government that Saudi Arabia will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel unless the Palestinian state is established and Israel withdraws its troops from the Gaza Strip. Qatar said Hamas responded positively to the agreement to release detainees.
Hamas issued a statement on the evening of the 6th saying that it had responded to the new round of exchange of detainees and submitted it to mediators such as Qatar and Egypt. The statement stated that Hamas approaches the agreement with a positive attitude and insists on a comprehensive ceasefire by Israel and an end to its aggression in the Gaza Strip.
According to foreign media reports, the agreement mentioned by the parties was formulated during relevant negotiations recently held in Paris, the French capital. The new draft agreement stipulates an initial ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for six weeks, during which Hamas will release Israeli detainees and Israel will release Palestinian detainees and provide humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
According to the itinerary, Blinken will also visit Israel. CBS quoted Sullivan, the US President's national security adviser, as saying that Blinken will put pressure on Israel to allow more food, water and medicine to enter Gaza. The United States believes it is necessary to reach a humanitarian ceasefire and reach an agreement to release people detained by Hamas, including American citizens.
Agence France-Presse and other reports said that Germany and France urged both parties to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to reach a peace agreement as soon as possible. In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, German Chancellor Scholz said that only through negotiations on a two-state solution would it be possible to reach a lasting solution. France encourages Palestine and Israel to cease fighting and even achieve a "comprehensive political settlement."
Agence France-Presse reported that whether the war will spread to other countries in the Middle East has also attracted much attention. Northern Israel is currently under daily attack from across the Lebanese border, and tensions on the Red Sea continue.
The Jerusalem Post reported on the 6th that Lebanese Foreign Minister Habib issued a statement rejecting the international community's proposal for Hezbollah to withdraw 8 kilometers to 10 kilometers from the Israeli border.
Yemen's Houthi armed forces spokesman Saraya issued a statement on the 6th, saying that the organization fired several missiles at a US ship and a British ship traveling in the Red Sea and accurately hit the target. (over)