US Secretary Of State Blinken Claims Israeli-Hamas Armistice Close To Agreement

Refugees in Gaza/DOK UNRWA

JAKARTA - United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas was in sight.

Blinken said negotiators were "trying to get to the final line of the deal's destination."

There are still some problems that need to be resolved, which need to be negotiated. We are doing this," Blinken said at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties to reach an agreement and end the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

"Now is the time to end the terrible war in Gaza, starting with an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages immediately and unconditionally. This is the right time for all parties to show political courage and political will to finally reach an agreement," Guterres wrote on X.

United States President Joe Biden said Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement agreed on a ceasefire framework in Gaza.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack on Israel and violated the border, attacking civilian environments and military bases. Nearly 1,200 people in Israel were killed and about 240 others kidnapped in the attack.

Israel then launched a counter-attack, ordered a total blockade of Gaza, and began ground attacks on Palestinian enclaves with the aim of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.