Blinken: The invasion of Rafah was a mistake, and there was rapprochement in the truce negotiations in Doha

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (right) and his American counterpart Anthony Blinken (French)

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken revealed on Thursday that there had been progress in the indirect Doha negotiations between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel, regarding the truce and the exchange of prisoners, and said that it would be a mistake for Israel to carry out a ground operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

This came in a press conference by Blinken with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, on the sidelines of an Arab ministerial meeting in Cairo that included the foreign ministers of Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Blinken said that there is a convergence in the ongoing negotiations in Doha with the aim of reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages.

Blinken stressed that Washington "continues to push for an agreement in Doha," noting that "it is difficult to achieve this, but I believe it is still possible."

Rafah and the two-state solution

In a related context, the US Secretary of State considered that any major military operation by Israel in the city of Rafah in the far south of the destroyed Gaza Strip would be a "mistake." Blinken said that the ground operation to invade Rafah that Israel threatens is “not necessary,” noting that “there is a better way to deal with the continuing threat posed by Hamas,” he said.

He added, "Civilians in Rafah have nowhere to go if Israel carries out a ground military operation there." He continued: "We will hold talks with the Israelis to assure them that any military operation in Rafah will be a mistake."

The American minister said that ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict includes establishing a Palestinian state and ensuring Israel's security.

For its part, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that the Arab ministers informed Blinken of their vision for a ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution.

The Arab ministers and their American counterpart agreed to hold an urgent meeting of experts to determine steps regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Shukri said during the press conference: “We will do everything we can to facilitate a ceasefire in Gaza to protect civilians.” He renewed Egypt's refusal to displace Palestinians from their lands.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies