Blinken calls on Hamas to accept an extraordinarily generous ceasefire deal

Hamas should accept an extraordinarily generous offer to release Israeli hostages it is holding in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday, speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF ) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Hamas is expected to respond to the US-led proposal in talks with Egyptian and Qatari officials in Cairo on Monday.

Hamas is faced with a proposal that is extraordinarily, extraordinarily generous from Israel, Blinken said during a panel discussion at the WEF.

And right now, the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas. They have to decide, and they have to decide quickly,” he continued. “I am hopeful that they will make the right decision.”

The administration has not released details of the latest proposal, although a senior administration official told reporters on a call Friday that included in the proposal is to allow a “structured” and “gradual” return ” of Palestinians in northern Gaza. .

Other reported details of the possible deal include the release of 33 Hamas hostages, specifically those considered most vulnerable, women, the elderly, sick or injured; and that the duration of a ceasefire would depend on the number of hostages released. Israel is also expected to release Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. Other reports indicate that Israel may withdraw forces from certain areas.

The Biden administration has criticized the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, for opposing earlier proposals to reach a deal that would require Hamas to release hostages in exchange for stopping the fighting, increasing humanitarian support and allowing that displaced Palestinians take refuge in Gaza. south to return to the north of the territory.

US officials have said that significant progress has been made by Hamas political officials in talks with Egypt and Qatar, but that Sinwar, who is holed up in Gaza, rejects overtures when he receives them.

The answer coming from Sinwar personally, the answer is no, a senior administration official said last week.

Last week, the US led a joint statement with the leaders of 17 other countries calling on Hamas to accept the latest proposal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

There are still about 133 hostages who were kidnapped in Israel on October 7 who have not been released by Hamas. But it is not clear how Hamas can last after its shocking invasion of the south of the country, killing people in their communities, at a music festival and taking more than 250 people hostage.

Hamas told negotiators earlier this month that it does not have 40 Israeli hostages it can release as part of a temporary ceasefire deal, raising questions about how many hostages are alive and who is holding them.

More than 100 were released as part of a week-long ceasefire agreement in late November, with freed hostages describing being held in tunnels and in civilian homes. Israel said Hamas has been holding hostages in Gaza hospitals and underground cells. Other witnesses have said that Israeli captives were sexually assaulted by their captors, while the men were beaten and tortured.

The US wants to reach a ceasefire deal, a first phase expected to last at least a couple of weeks, to preempt a likely Israeli offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than ‘1 million displaced Palestinians.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is described as catastrophic, with tens of thousands dead and injured, starvation leading to starvation, spreading disease and little or no adequate shelter.

Blinken will travel to Israel this week after his meetings in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. He is expected to speak with Israeli officials about the hostage deal and US concerns about Israel’s plans to launch an offensive in Rafah, believed to be Hamas’ last stronghold in the Strip.

Biden officials have said the administration will not support an Israeli offensive on Rafah without a credible plan to protect civilians.

We have said clearly and for some time now, in Rafah, that in the absence of a plan to ensure that civilians are not harmed, we cannot support a major military operation, Blinken reiterated on Monday.

We have yet to see any plan that gives us confidence that civilians can be effectively protected.