U.S. pushes again for Gaza cease-fire

Draft resolution to U.N. Security Council also calls for Hamas to release all Israeli hostages

The United States has submitted a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council calling for “an immediate cease-fire tied to the release of hostages” in the Gaza Strip, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

In an interview Wednesday with Al Hadath, a Saudi-run news channel, Blinken said he hoped other countries would back the U.S.-proposed resolution. “I think that would send a strong message, a strong signal,” he said.

Blinken is in Saudi Arabia to broker a diplomatic resolution to the war between Israel and Hamas as conditions worsen for civilians in Gaza and pressure mounts for stronger international action.

The United States has angered many U.N. member nations by vetoing three previous Security Council resolutions for a halt in fighting, saying at the latest vote in February that calling for an immediate cease-fire would interfere with diplomatic efforts to reach a deal securing the release of hostages.

However, last month, the Biden administration began circulating its own draft proposal that mentioned a cease-fire for the first time, albeit with several conditions, signaling the United States was more open to criticizing how Israel is conducting its war in Gaza.

And in a speech in early March, Vice President Kamala Harris called for an “immediate cease-fire,” after months of more measured language from administration officials that focused on backing a temporary halt or a humanitarian pause in the war.

In Wednesday’s interview, Blinken said negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar between Hamas and Israel were “getting closer” to reaching an agreement. Negotiators have been in Qatar since Monday for the latest round of talks, after several previous attempts ended without a resolution.

Hamas last week presented a new proposal that excluded a previous demand Israel immediately agree to a permanent cease-fire in return for beginning an exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Israeli officials said before this week’s talks the broad proposal being discussed includes a 42-day pause in fighting in exchange for the release of 40 of the more than 100 hostages taken from Israel who remain captive in Gaza.

“I think the gaps are narrowing, and I think an agreement is very much possible,” Blinken said.