U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Hamas to accept the latest ceasefire proposal, which he described as “extraordinarily generous” for them.
Blinken emphasized Hamas needed to respond quickly due to Israel’s intention to carry out full-scale military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have fled during the war.
It’s also Hamas’s, the terrorist organization responsible for the deadly Oct. 7 attack that prompted Israel’s military response, last remaining stronghold in Gaza.
The first ceasefire deal, which lasted a week, included a provision forcing Israel to release three Palestinians for every Israeli hostage who was released.
Getting Hamas to agree to a ceasefire, even one that is temporary, would hold off an Israeli invasion of Rafah, though the terrorist group’s leaders have rejected recent proposals.
And what we’re hoping is that after six weeks of a temporary ceasefire, we can maybe get something more enduring in place.”.
Hamas wants Palestinians to be able to return freely to the north and wants to see the cessation of fighting be indefinite. »
