US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed that some of the proposed amendments by Hamas to the United States’ truce proposal for Gaza are not feasible, but negotiations are ongoing to reach a resolution.
During a discussion in Doha with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Blinken mentioned that Israel’s military actions in Gaza will persist due to Hamas’s reaction.
“Hamas has suggested several modifications to the initial proposal. After deliberations with Egyptian counterparts and the prime minister, we found some changes to be viable while others are not,” Blinken stated.
The plan put forth by Washington at the end of last month aimed to establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas, in collaboration with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, submitted a response on Tuesday, labeling it as “responsible” and “constructive.”
“Our response prioritizes the well-being of the Palestinian people, the urgent need to halt the ongoing aggression in Gaza, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region,” Hamas stated.
When US President Joe Biden introduced the phased proposal on May 31, he outlined the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a permanent end to hostilities.
The divergence between Hamas’s stance and the US proposal remains unclear. Blinken squarely attributed the failure to reach an agreement to the Palestinian group.
“There was a viable deal on the table, similar to Hamas’s own proposal on May 6, which had global support and Israel’s approval. Hamas could have simply said yes,” Blinken remarked.
“Instead, Hamas delayed for almost two weeks and then presented additional changes, some of which exceeded their previous positions and agreements.”
Hamas responds to Blinken
Hamas official Taher…
Post from www.aljazeera.com