Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday backed President Trump’s Gaza plan, saying it aligns with a deal he pursued under Biden.
“I do think it’s cause for some hope. I certainly hope that the plan gets fully accepted, fully adopted, and fully implemented,” Blinken told former federal prosecutor Preet Bharara on his podcast. “This is essentially the plan that developed over many months and more or less [was] left in a drawer for the incoming administration, and I’m very, very glad they picked it up.”
He also noted risks in the plan, such as leaving Israel to decide when conditions permit a full withdrawal from Gaza, stating: “There’s some loopholes that they could drive a truck through if they wanted to.”
After Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, Blinken made repeated Middle East trips pushing for a ceasefire amid Israel’s offensive. Israel and Hamas agreed on Jan. 19, Biden’s final day in office, with Trump’s incoming envoy supporting the deal.
In March, Israel relaunched major operations in Gaza. The U.N., which Israel says is linked to Hamas, accused it of causing famine, but Israeli officials told Newsmax the only people starving are the hostages.
At the White House Monday, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu endorsed the plan and warned Hamas of severe consequences if it rejects it. While world powers, including Arab states, welcomed the proposal, some in Gaza told AFP it was unrealistic because it required Hamas to disarm.
