US Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked that some of the adjustments suggested by Hamas to the United States’ ceasefire proposal for Gaza are deemed unfeasible, though negotiations towards an agreement are ongoing.
During his remarks in Doha alongside Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Wednesday, Blinken stated that Israel’s military actions in Gaza would continue due to Hamas’s response.
“Hamas has put forward several amendments to the proposal that was under consideration. We reviewed these changes last night with Egyptian counterparts and today with the prime minister,” Blinken explained. “While some of these amendments are feasible, others are not.”
Washington had introduced the plan in late May, presenting it as a pathway to achieving a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas, in collaboration with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, submitted their response on Tuesday, describing it as “constructive” and “positive.”
“The response prioritizes the interests of our Palestinian people, emphasizes the urgent need to completely halt the ongoing aggression on Gaza, and calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip,” the group stated in a release.
When US President Joe Biden unveiled the phased proposal on May 31, he outlined its components, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent cessation of hostilities.
The divergence between Hamas’s stance and the US proposal remains unclear. Blinken directly attributed the failure to reach an agreement to the Palestinian group during his remarks on Tuesday.
“A proposal was on the table that closely mirrored a plan Hamas had previously put forward on May 6 – a proposal backed by the international community and accepted by Israel. Hamas could have responded with a simple ‘yes,'” Blinken asserted.
“Instead, Hamas delayed for nearly two weeks and then suggested further changes, some of which exceed the positions it had previously endorsed and agreed upon.”
Hamas spokesperson Taher Al-Nunu criticized Antony Blinken, accusing the US Secretary of State of bias and likening his actions to those of Israel’s foreign minister throughout the conflict.
“He lacks neutrality and fairness, operating with double standards. He is attempting to paint the Palestinian resistance as the party obstructing the deal,” Al-Nunu told Al Jazeera Mubasher on Wednesday.
Al-Nunu claimed that Hamas had accepted the proposal presented by Qatar and Egypt on May 6 without amendments, alleging it was Israel that introduced changes. He stated that Hamas’s response on Tuesday aimed to counter some of these Israeli amendments.
Regarding Blinken’s dismissal of certain Hamas demands as “not workable,” Al-Nunu described it as normal for negotiating parties to accept or reject proposed amendments.
During a joint news conference with Blinken, Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed emphasized ongoing efforts to bridge differences between the parties.
“These negotiations involve give and take. Ultimately, they aim to reach a mutual agreement, not a definitive yes or no response,” he remarked.
Sheikh Mohammed called for a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Blinken also stressed the importance of achieving durable peace and fostering greater stability and prosperity in the Middle East.
During his eighth visit to the region since October, Blinken acknowledged the desire among regional stakeholders for this path forward, while acknowledging that Hamas may not share this vision.
While the Biden administration and Arab nations endorse a two-state solution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Earlier in the year, Biden authorized $14 billion in additional aid to Israel, reaffirming longstanding military support.
Looking ahead, Blinken announced plans for the US to propose its vision for Gaza’s reconstruction and governance in the aftermath of the conflict, aiming to transform the current ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement.
