Hamas the only thing standing between Gaza and ceasefire: US
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Hamas was the only obstacle to a Gaza truce as a Hamas delegation arrived in Egypt on Saturday for another round of negotiations. Speaking at an Arizona forum, he stated, "The reality...is the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas." "We wait to see whether, in effect, they can take yes for an answer on the ceasefire and release of hostages," Blinken said.
Why does this story matter?
The proposed truce aims to halt nearly seven months of conflict in Gaza and includes the release of hostages. Throughout the talks, Hamas has insisted that releasing all hostages should lead to a permanent end to hostilities and an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza. The conflict in Gaza began after the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking over 200 people hostage.
Blinken discusses challenges of negotiating with Hamas
However, it remains unclear whether the deal would fully stop Israel's offensive operations, as demanded by Hamas. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue an attack on Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, aiming to eliminate Hamas. The Joe Biden administration has expressed concerns over Netanyahu's planned attack on Rafah, pointing out that Israel has not yet provided "a credible plan to genuinely protect the civilians who are in harm's way" in Rafah.
We can't support major military operation going into Rafah: Blinken
"Absent such a plan, we can't support a major military operation going into Rafah because the damage it would do is beyond what's acceptable," Blinken told the McCain Institute's Sedona Forum in Arizona. About 1.5 million Palestinians, majority of whom are displaced, are currently taking shelter in Rafah. They were forcibly displaced from their homes after the Isreal-Hamas war began last year. Since then, Rafah has become a haven for the Palestinians seeking safety near the Egyptian border.
