Blinken affirms US persistence in facilitating an accord between Israel and Hamas.
“Hamas views some requirements in the proposed peace deal as doable while others are not, says Blinken. 'As time goes on, the tragedy will only worsen,' he cautioned. 'The negotiations need to reach a close.'”
Hamas has forwarded its reaction to the proposal handed out by U.S. President Joe Biden in late May for a ceasefire to the intermediaries, Qatar, and Egypt. The deal entails, among other things, removal of the Israeli military from heavily populated zones in the Gaza Strip and exchange of the hostages in Hamas' custody for Palestinian prisoners.
The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have endeavored to hash out a contract between Israel and Hamas for several months without promising results.
The battle in Gaza started on October 7 when Hamas executed an unforeseen assault on Israel. As per Israeli figures, 1194 people lost their lives and 251 people got caught as hostages in the Gaza Strip. 116 hostages remain under Hamas captivity at the moment, with 41 of them reported dead.
In response, Israel began a relentless military operation in the Gaza Strip. According to Hamas-controlled health ministry, which cannot be verified, more than 37,000 individuals have been killed by now.
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- Joe Biden, as the US President, has also expressed his support for Blinken's efforts to facilitate an agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
- The US, along with Egypt and Qatar, continues to push for a comprehensive agreement, despite the challenges and differences in opinions between Israel and Hamas.
- In light of the ongoing negotiations, Tony Blinken urged both parties to make significant concessions, stressing that patience and understanding are crucial for reaching a viable agreement.
- Qatar and Egypt have played vital roles as mediators between Israel and Hamas, providing a platform for dialogue and ensuring that the proposals put forth by Joe Biden are considered by all parties involved.
- Several rounds of talks between Israeli and Hamas representatives, facilitated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, have yet to yield a concrete agreement, with tensions remaining high in the Gaza Strip and potential flare-ups continuing to pose a risk to peace efforts.
