Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal is getting closer, says U.S. secretary of state : NPR

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has a big job: he’s steering US foreign policy around the world at a time of ongoing conflict and tensions around the world.

Central to the job, he says, is recognizing the humanity of the person across the table, whether friend or foe.

“I know that if we can end or minimize the terrible dehumanization we see in so many places around the world, that is not only possible but will be the best thing for humanity,” he said Friday.

In a wide-ranging conversation Taking everything into consideration Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, moderated by Mary Louise Kelly, Secretary of State Blinken offered his views on everything from a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to the war in Ukraine and what the United States is doing to bring home Americans being held in Russia.

Check out the full conversation in the YouTube video below.

The following interview excerpts have been edited for length and clarity.

Interview highlights

Mary Louise Kelly: UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said this week that “ceasefire talks are moving in the right direction.” Is she right? And what are they based on?

Antony Blinken: Linda is right: I believe we are within the 10-yard line, we are moving toward the goal line, toward a ceasefire, an agreement to bring the hostages home, and an agreement that puts us on a better track to build lasting peace and stability.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 17, 2024.

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Kelly: And again, what is it based on but hope?

Blinken: Hope is a good thing, but it’s not enough. No, hope is based on reality. And reality is this: A month ago, President Biden announced a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a detailed proposal for moving forward. And what happened after that was pretty amazing. The whole world came together behind that proposal, country after country stepped up in support. The UN Security Council, where Linda did a great job, came together. That’s something you rarely see these days. [voting] It was a 14-0 vote, with Russia abstaining in favor of the agreement. And then after a lot of pressure and diplomacy over the next few weeks, Israel and Hamas agreed to the framework that the president laid out. Now it’s a matter of finishing negotiating some of the key details. There are some issues left to be resolved, some issues to be negotiated. And we’re in the process of doing just that.

Kelly: One more thing about the Middle East: is the two-state solution over?

Blinken: Not only is it not dead, it should not be dead either.

Kelly: With the Israeli government and public currently resisting Israel, the destruction of Gaza, and settlers taking over land in the West Bank, it is very hard to be optimistic. Where is the room for hope?

Blinken: You know, [late Senator] John McCain used to say it’s always darkest before it’s dark. If we keep that in mind, it’s not a bad guide for the work we’re all doing. But there’s a fundamental reality that we can’t escape. And that fundamental reality is that between Gaza and the West Bank, there are more than 5 million Palestinians and about 7 million Israeli Jews. Neither of them are going anywhere. The Palestinians are not going anywhere. The Jews are not going anywhere.

Compromises are necessary, but we need compromises that accomplish two things: bring lasting peace and security to the Israelis, who so desperately want and need it, and fulfill the Palestinian right to self-determination. Now, with any right comes responsibility: the responsibility to build a state that is not a threat to Israel. It is not a Hamas-stan, it is not like Lebanon, where Hezbollah actually controls the country. So for a state to become a reality, significant things need to happen. But I strongly believe that, yes, it has to be in the future.

Now, who are the two most staunch opponents of a two-state solution? Iran and Hamas. So the most powerful response to Iran and Hamas would be the realization of two states. Who has tried to sabotage the Oslo Accords at every stage of this history? Hamas. Who, unfortunately, effectively sabotaged it when Arab countries launched the Arab Peace Initiative and were moving towards the recognition of Israel? Hamas. One of the most horrific terrorist attacks in Israel before October 7th. So, if you look at this logic, it is compelling. And there is another future. And we have seen the contours of it. It is there, albeit in a mostly immature form. A different future for Israel. It is one that realizes Israel’s number one objective since its founding, which is to be accepted in the region and have normal relations with all its neighbors. We are seeing it through the normalization efforts. When Iran attacked Israel and it was under direct attack by Iran and Israel for the first time, not only the United States but also European and regional countries came to Israel’s defense. So we see a future in which Israel is more integrated and secure in the region, Palestinians realize their aspirations for statehood, and their future enemy, Iran and its various proxies, are isolated.

Rescue workers remove rubble from the Omaddit Children’s Hospital, which was destroyed in a missile attack in Kiev on July 8.

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Kelly: Thank you for giving us reasons for hope. Regarding Ukraine, let me start with reasons for hope. NATO recently expanded its military assistance. Many of the problems with the shortage of ammunition have been resolved. Dozens of F-16 fighter jets are on their way to Ukraine and are expected to be operational this summer.

I want to know what it would take for the U.S. to change its policy on how far Ukraine can fire its weapons at Russia. For this question, I reached out to my colleagues in the Kyiv bureau, including my colleagues in Ukraine. I was interested to know what they would like to ask you. They want to know whether Washington wants Ukraine to win or not.

Blinken: Looking back over the past two and a half years, I think it would be difficult to conclude that no other country has done more to ensure Ukraine’s success than the United States of America, and that will continue to be the case as long as we have something to say.

Kelly: That’s true, but they will point out that they are being asked to fight with one hand tied behind their back.

Blinken: All along the way, we’ve tried to adapt and adjust to the realities on the ground, what’s actually going on, and make sure that the Ukrainian people get what they need, when they need it. But often, it’s not as simple as it seems. Let me give you an example. At various points in the last two and a half years, some weapon system or other has made the headlines. It might be the F-16s, as you pointed out, that deliveries are underway, it might be Abrams tanks, it might be some other system. And there seems to be this binary question: “Oh, give it to them or don’t give it to them.” But it’s not that simple. It’s not enough to just give them a weapon system. They have to be able to use it. They have to be able to sustain it. It has to be part of a cohesive strategy. And when we’ve done these things, and [U.S. Secretary of Defense] Lloyd Austin has done an extraordinary job of addressing each of these decisions, as well as rallying more than 50 nations together to support the defense of Ukraine.

Kelly: I want to ask you about the Americans being held in Russia, including Evan Gershkovich. The Wall Street JournalVladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison this morning, and who won a Pulitzer Prize for his column this year. The Washington PostHow do we get them home?

Blinken: you [U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs] Roger Carstens was here a few days ago. Roger and his team are working every day to bring home Americans who are being wrongfully detained, wherever they are being detained. And of course, with regards to Evan, Paul Whelan in Russia and the other Americans, we are literally working every day to see what we can do to bring them home. We’ve had a pretty incredible track record over the last three and a half years of bringing home about 30 Americans from all over the world who have been wrongfully detained. All I can say is, we’re working. We’re working right now and we won’t stop until we bring Evan home, until we bring Paul Whelan home, and until we bring the others home.