US: Hamas Preventing Gaza Ceasefire, Blinken Urges Release of Hostages
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Hamas is preventing a ceasefire in Gaza by not accepting the terms, which include a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
The United States and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist group, making direct negotiations challenging.
Hamas leaders, who are being engaged with indirectly through Qatar and Egypt, are living outside of Gaza.
Blinken, the US Secretary of State, stated at a dinner in Arizona that the people in Gaza have the final say in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as none of us have direct contact with them.
This came after Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and other leaders in the Middle East.
Netanyahu had previously announced plans to launch an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah to remove Hamas, despite ongoing negotiations for a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages.
The Biden administration has repeatedly warned against such actions, as Rafah is home to over 1.4 million Palestinians who have sought shelter there due to the Israeli assault following Hamas' October 7 attack.
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, expressed concern over Israel's lack of a credible plan to protect civilians in Rafah before launching a major military operation.
Without such a plan, the US cannot support the operation due to the potential damage to civilians, which goes beyond what is acceptable.
Hamas leaders, who are being engaged with indirectly through Qatar and Egypt, are living outside of Gaza.
Blinken, the US Secretary of State, stated at a dinner in Arizona that the people in Gaza have the final say in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as none of us have direct contact with them.
This came after Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and other leaders in the Middle East.
Netanyahu had previously announced plans to launch an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah to remove Hamas, despite ongoing negotiations for a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages.
The Biden administration has repeatedly warned against such actions, as Rafah is home to over 1.4 million Palestinians who have sought shelter there due to the Israeli assault following Hamas' October 7 attack.
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, expressed concern over Israel's lack of a credible plan to protect civilians in Rafah before launching a major military operation.
Without such a plan, the US cannot support the operation due to the potential damage to civilians, which goes beyond what is acceptable.
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Translated by AI
