Tony Blair says Israel’s acceptance of the Egyptian proposed ceasefire in Gaza was only part of a larger plan to stop the shooting and produce a long-term solution to stabilize the Gaza Strip. Those efforts were torpedoed by the Iran-backed Hamas, which rejected the ceasefire instead of entering into negotiations replied with dozens of rockets, saying “will remain forever faithful to the blood of our martyrs.”
Interviewed on Israel’s Channel 10 news, the special envoy who heads the International Quartet said:
“This is an Egyptian initiative that’s got the support of the Arab League, the Palestinian Authority and President Abbas, the international community… the U.N. Secretary General he is supporting it – we’re all supporting it.”
“The ceasefire that Egypt wants to see put in place will then allow the parties to come and to talk through the issues and then to put into place a long-term plan for Gaza that gives the Gazan people some hope for the future and gives Israel some security for the security. So there is no reason not to accept this proposal and every reason to accept it.”
“One of the things that’s interesting and maybe this is what’s discomforting Hamas, is that this is an initiative put forward by President Sisi and the new Egyptian government. They are making it quite clear… that they want a long-term plan for Gaza that does open Gaza back up and gives its people some hope and opportunity, but also crucially deals with the real and security requirements in a permanent way. And what that means is that if there is a unification of Gaza and the West Bank there’s got to be one authority, one rule of law, and that means that Hamas cannot carry on with the military infrastructure that it has. So the plan that has been put forward takes absolutely account of the fact that for the Israeli population – actually for many of the Gazans – they don’t want a solution that’s another short-term fix. They want a solution that is long-term and permanent.”
Blair said long-term stability of Gaza was in the interest of the countries in the region who are deeply worried about the instability that follows in the wake of radical Islamic groups like Hamas.
His thoughts were echoed when he held talks earlier with Israeli President Shimon Peres, who said:
“A return to peace talks to achieve the only viable, long term solution – two states for two peoples.
“We stand loud and clear for peace with our neighbors. The Palestinian people are not our enemies, the people of Gaza are not our enemies. We share the same aim which is an end to terror. Security and calm for civilians everywhere.”
[Photo: Screenshot, Nana10 News]