Posted on 19 June 2024
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has revealed that Hamas has proposed numerous changes to a US-backed plan for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Speaking in Doha after discussions with Qatar’s Prime Minister, Blinken noted that while some of the proposed changes were workable, others were not. The US, along with mediators Qatar and Egypt, is striving to finalise the deal. Hamas has expressed readiness to engage positively with the process but emphasised the necessity for Israel to agree to a permanent ceasefire. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to the ceasefire proposal, he has not publicly endorsed the plan, which US President Joe Biden stated was offered by Israel twelve days ago. The UN Security Council has passed a resolution supporting the proposal, adding to the diplomatic pressure on Hamas.
At a news conference, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, highlighted the need for both Hamas and Israel to make concessions. Blinken stressed the importance of developing plans for the “day after the conflict” in Gaza to achieve a lasting end to the war. He mentioned that a deal was on the table, virtually identical to a proposal Hamas put forward on 6 May, which had global backing and was accepted by Israel. However, Hamas’s delayed response and additional changes have complicated the negotiations. Blinken remains hopeful that the gaps are bridgeable, but ultimately, the decision lies with Hamas. Sheikh Mohammed echoed the call for an end to the conflict, noting a shift in the regional dynamics and a clear call to end the war.
Source: BBC
Photo by Alisdare Hickson via flickr