Blinken Asserts Hamas Holds Key to Ceasefire Plan’s Fate

[Social Media]

 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has emphasized that the fate of the Gaza ceasefire plan depends largely on Hamas. Following discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Blinken noted that Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the ceasefire proposal, which was put forth by President Joe Biden 11 days ago. However, Blinken indicated that the plan's success hinges on Hamas’s response, putting the onus on Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar who has said Hamas will ‘not surrender its guns. However other Hamas leaders expressed "positive signs".

 

In a recent press conference, Blinken expressed optimism over Hamas’s initial response to a UN Security Council resolution that supported President Biden’s ceasefire plan. This resolution recognized Israel’s acceptance of the plan and urged Hamas to follow suit. While Hamas welcomed elements of the resolution, Blinken stressed that a definitive response from the Hamas leadership in Gaza is still lacking.

 

Blinken's comments follow months of confidential ceasefire negotiations, culminating in President Biden’s public announcement of an Israeli "roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages." The proposed plan involves a six-week initial ceasefire, during which Hamas would release some hostages in exchange for Israel freeing an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. A subsequent phase would require Hamas to release the remaining hostages and for Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza, though the final ceasefire terms would remain subject to further negotiations.

 

Despite Netanyahu’s war cabinet authorizing the plan, he has not publicly endorsed it. The proposal has sparked contention within Netanyahu’s coalition, particularly among far-right ultranationalist ministers who view it as capitulation to Hamas and have threatened to resign if the plan proceeds. 

 

Conversely, Hamas is expected to demand clear assurances that the proposal will lead to a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent cessation of hostilities. Thus far, Hamas has not formally responded to the plan.

The complexity of the situation is compounded by the fact that the detailed Israeli proposal, reportedly more comprehensive than the summary presented by President Biden, has not been disclosed publicly. This proposal was formulated by Israel’s three-man war cabinet and has faced opposition from some far-right ministers.

 

As part of an extensive diplomatic effort, Blinken’s visit aims to advance the ceasefire proposal. However, significant obstacles remain, and the path to a lasting ceasefire and the resolution of the conflict continues to be fraught with challenges.

 

Related Topics:

Biden Announces Israeli Proposal for Lasting Cease-Fire in Gaza

US Submits UN Security Council Resolution Supporting Latest Gaza Deal

 

Credit: BBC 2024-06-12

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

Thus far, Hamas has not formally responded to the plan.

 

 

Hamas has responded. As seen on Al Jazeera. They want a full withdrawal of israeli forces from Gaza to agree.

It's up to israel to respond now as the ball is in their court.

[novacova]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

As part of an extensive diplomatic effort, Blinken’s visit aims to advance the ceasefire proposal. However, significant obstacles remain…

,,,hamas 

[Bkk Brian]

Change the deal then claim you accepted it......lol

 

Hamas response rejects hostage-ceasefire deal offer presented by Biden — Israeli official

An Israeli official says that Jerusalem has received Hamas’s response to the hostage release and ceasefire deal offer presented by US President Joe Biden late last month, and that the reply from the terror group effectively rejects the proposal.

“This evening, Israel received, via the mediator, the Hamas response. In its response, Hamas has rejected the proposal for a hostage release that was presented by President Biden,” the Israeli official says, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official adds that Hamas has changed the main parameters of the proposal.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hamas-response-rejects-hostage-ceasefire-deal-offer-presented-by-biden-official/

 

 

Hamas issues response to Israeli hostage deal proposal, saying it made ‘amendments’

Israel says terror group made drastic changes that amount to a rejection of its offer; official from mediating country says Hamas proposed new timeline for ceasefire, IDF withdrawal. 

Hamas on Tuesday submitted its formal response to the hostage release-ceasefire proposal submitted by Israel 12 days earlier, with the terror group declaring that it made “amendments” to the offer, while Israel asserted that the response amounted to a rejection of its proposal.

The Hamas response was submitted to Qatar and Egypt, which passed it along to the third mediator, the United States. All three countries issued statements saying they were reviewing the proposal without characterizing it further. The more critical reactions, though, will likely come from the mediators — namely the United States — once they finish reviewing the proposal and adjudicating the extent of Hamas’s amendments.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-issues-response-to-israeli-hostage-deal-proposal-saying-it-made-amendments

[Jeff the Chef]

8 hours ago, Social Media said:

Despite Netanyahu’s war cabinet authorizing the plan, he has not publicly endorsed it. The proposal has sparked contention within Netanyahu’s coalition, particularly among far-right ultranationalist ministers who view it as capitulation to Hamas and have threatened to resign if the plan proceeds. 

 

Conversely, Hamas is expected to demand clear assurances that the proposal will lead to a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent cessation of hostilities. Thus far, Hamas has not formally responded to the plan.

The complexity of the situation is compounded by the fact that the detailed Israeli proposal, reportedly more comprehensive than the summary presented by President Biden, has not been disclosed publicly. This proposal was formulated by Israel’s three-man war cabinet and has faced opposition from some far-right ministers.

 Whatever happens until this is sorted out the plan is a non-starter imho

[Jeff the Chef]

World leaders at Gaza aid conference urge Israel, Hamas to back ceasefire
World leaders at a conference on humanitarian aid for Gaza called on both Israel and Hamas to back a ceasefire proposal endorsed at the UN Security Council, saying it is the best way to alleviate suffering. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told him that he is committed to getting the proposal “across the finish line.”

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/6/11/world-leaders-at-gaza-aid-conference-urge-israel-hamas-to-back-ceasefire

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

World leaders at Gaza aid conference urge Israel, Hamas to back ceasefire
World leaders at a conference on humanitarian aid for Gaza called on both Israel and Hamas to back a ceasefire proposal endorsed at the UN Security Council, saying it is the best way to alleviate suffering. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told him that he is committed to getting the proposal “across the finish line.”

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/6/11/world-leaders-at-gaza-aid-conference-urge-israel-hamas-to-back-ceasefire

That's not what netanyahu has been saying before. He's been saying he's not stopping till Hamas is eliminated, and Hamas is not going to agree to that.

 

Does anyone believe anything Blinken or netanyahu says, except those all in for the elimination of Gaza Hamas?

[Bkk Brian]

Update from Blinken

 

“Hamas has proposed numerous changes to the proposal that was on the table,” Secretary Blinken says just now. “Some of those changes are workable, some of them are not.”

[Bkk Brian]

Been published now:

 

Blinken says "Hamas has proposed numerous changes" to ceasefire proposal

“Hamas has proposed numerous changes to the proposal that was on the table” for a permanent ceasefire and release of the hostages, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

“Some of the changes are workable. Some are not,” Blinken said at a news conference in Doha. He did not immediately provide details on Hamas’ proposed changes.
“We discussed those changes last night with Egyptian colleagues and today with the Prime Minister,” Blinken said after meeting with the Qatari prime minister.

The top US diplomat reiterated that the proposed deal “was virtually identical” to a proposal that Hamas previously accepted.

“Hamas could have answered with a single word – yes,” he said.

https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-06-12-24-intl/h_7296e981cb4e01b1dcab19c2d116093a

[Bkk Brian]

A few more details coming out.

 

Among the alterations to the proposed ceasefire and hostage release deal that Hamas has demanded is a stipulation that China, Russia and Turkey would serve as guarantors for any agreement it reaches with Israel, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

The demand, which Kan says was rejected by both the US and Israel, is said to be one of several changes made by Hamas to the proposal put forward by Israel last month and publicized by US President Joe Biden.

Other amendments included an updated timeline for the permanent ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza — including from Rafah and the Philadelphi corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border — according to an official from one of the mediating countries who requested anonymity.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier on Saturday that some of the changes Hamas demanded were impractical and would not be accepted.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hamas-said-to-demand-china-russia-and-turkey-serve-as-guarantors-for-any-hostage-deal-with-israel/

[Jeff the Chef]

During a Wednesday press conference in Doha, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was less than honest about a United States-proposed Gaza ceasefire deal.

During the course of his opening remarks and the question and answer session, Blinken made several statements that are either transparently untrue or deeply misleading.

First, Blinken insisted that the three-phased ceasefire deal announced by US President Joe Biden on May 31 was an “Israeli proposal” and that Israel fully backs it.

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/6/14/unpacking-blinkens-lies-on-the-gaza-ceasefire-negotiations

[Jeff the Chef]

 

Edited June 15 by Jeff the Chef