“There’s a whole lot of work to be finished, however we proceed to imagine that an settlement is feasible and certainly important, and we’ll proceed to work relentlessly to attain it,” Mr. Blinken mentioned.
The Hamas reply got here as one thing of a shock to Mr. Blinken and the White Home, who had little time to evaluation it earlier than being requested publicly about it. Qatari officers acquired the Hamas proposal simply an hour earlier than Mr. Blinken arrived for his first assembly in Doha, and about three hours earlier than his joint information convention, mentioned a senior U.S. official who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate inside deliberations. Mr. Blinken’s staff shortly reviewed it after which briefed White Home officers.
Mr. Biden instructed reporters in Washington that there had been “some motion” within the talks and that Hamas’s proposal “appears to be a little bit excessive.”
“There’s persevering with negotiation proper now,” he mentioned.
In a press release, Hamas mentioned it had handled the framework proposed by intermediaries “positively.” It didn’t elaborate, however reaffirmed its prior calls for, together with a everlasting cease-fire, the reconstruction of Gaza, the top of Israel’s blockade of the territory and the discharge of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
An Israeli official who was briefed on the matter recommended that Israel was dissatisfied with Hamas’s reply. The official, who was not approved to handle the problem publicly and so spoke on the situation of anonymity, mentioned that Hamas wished a deal provided that it ensured its continued management of Gaza and ended the conflict — each circumstances rejected by Israel.
Israel’s spy company, the Mossad, mentioned in a press release that it had acquired the Hamas reply from Qatar, “and its particulars are being examined in depth by all officers engaged within the negotiations.”
Egypt and Qatar have been key intermediataries, negotiating with the leaders of Hamas on a proposal backed by the USA that might briefly cease the conflict that has devastated Gaza, free the remaining hostages there in alternate for Palestinians held in Israeli jails and permit extra meals, water, drugs and different fundamental provides into the territory.
