US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on Hamas to agree to a Gaza ceasefire plan even as Israel warns of continued military action against the Palestinian militant group following any halt in hostilities.
The proposed truce deal, put forward by mediators, seeks to pause the fighting for 40 days and involve the exchange of dozens of hostages for a larger number of Palestinian prisoners.
Reacting to the proposal, Hamas has promised a swift response. Blinken, during his visit to Israel on his seventh Middle East mission since the conflict began in October, emphasized the importance of Hamas accepting the truce deal.
He stressed that if Hamas truly cares about the well-being of the Palestinian people, it should seize the opportunity to alleviate their suffering by embracing the agreement.
Following his tour of the region, which included visits to areas affected by recent attacks, Blinken highlighted the urgency of reaching a ceasefire.
However, Hamas officials have expressed skepticism, with senior member Osama Hamdan indicating a negative stance to the truce offer at this time. Discussions on the proposal are ongoing, despite current differences in positions.
While Hamas aims to bring an end to the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his determination to send ground forces into Gaza’s Rafah city, regardless of any agreements. The potential assault on Rafah has sparked concerns from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who warned of devastating consequences, including further civilian casualties and mass displacements.
Netanyahu’s threats come amidst strained relations between the traditional allies, as the Gaza conflict continues to incite global outrage and prompt pro-Palestinian demonstrations on US college campuses.
