US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Hamas for refusing a UN-backed cease-fire proposal, emphasizing that the terror group could have ended the war in Gaza with a simple acceptance. Speaking from Qatar on Wednesday, Blinken pointed out that the current proposal closely mirrors one that Hamas itself had proposed last month. He accused Hamas of prolonging the conflict by adding more demands, which disrupt ongoing peace negotiations.
In other words, once again the dynamic duo (sarcasm) of Biden and Blinken have failed again.
“It was a deal that Israel accepted and the world was behind. Hamas could have answered with a single word: ‘Yes,’” Blinken told reporters in Doha. Although he did not detail the specific demands from Hamas, he noted that some were reasonable while others were clearly unacceptable.
“At some point in a negotiation, and this has gone back and forth for a long time, you get to a point where if one side continues to change its demands, including making demands and insisting on changes for things that it had already accepted, you have to question whether they’re proceeding in good faith or not,” Blinken said of Hamas.
“It’s time for the haggling to stop and a cease-fire to start. It’s as simple as that,” he added. Blinken also expressed frustration over the delay in Hamas’ response after President Biden announced the deal.
“They waited almost two weeks and then proposed more changes, a number of which go beyond positions it has previously presented and agreed to,” Blinken vented. “As a result, the war will go on and more people will suffer.”
Maybe Tony could play his guitar for Hamas and that would bring them to the table.
The proposal, approved by the UN Security Council on Monday, calls for a temporary cease-fire in Gaza to facilitate the release of about 120 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Additionally, it demands that Israel withdraw from Gaza’s main population centers and allow more aid to reach Palestinians.
The deal also includes provisions for Palestinians to return to areas of the Gaza Strip evacuated since the Israeli military’s ground incursion. Despite initial indications of openness, Hamas’ top Gaza official, Yahya Sinwar, indicated he would not agree to a compromise with Israel, likely derailing the proposal.
Leaked cables reveal that Sinwar, a key figure behind the October 7 attack on Israel, views the deaths of innocent Palestinians as “necessary sacrifices” to tarnish Israel’s international reputation.
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan blamed Israel for the deal’s collapse, claiming on Al-Araby TV that it was Israel who rejected the proposal and accusing America of avoiding “any commitment” to permanent peace in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel will not end the war in Gaza until Hamas is dismantled. Blinken noted that American, Qatari, and Egyptian negotiators will continue efforts in the coming days to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas’ demands.
