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Hamas gives "positive" response to framework agreement on hostage deal but offers few details
Hamas’ long-awaited counteroffer to a hostage and truce framework is “responsible,” a source familiar with the discussions told CNN. It does not include two of its most prominent and public demands: that Israeli soldiers leave Gaza or for a deal to end the war.
Qatar's prime minister also confirmed that Hamas had responded. “The reply includes some comments, but in general it is positive. However, given the sensitivity of the circumstances, we will not tackle details,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at a news conference alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Doha on Tuesday. The Qatari prime minister said they have given the response to Israel and added, "we are optimistic."
Top US diplomat Antony Blinken, who is in the Middle East to meet with leaders of multiple nations, responded positively after hearing Hamas' proposal, the source said, which Blinken later echoed in a press conference.
In a statement last week, senior Hamas leader Ismael Hanniyeh said that "the review of the new proposal for a ceasefire is based on the basis that any negotiations lead to a complete end to the aggression.”
The next hurdle, as Blinken indicated in his comments to reporters, will be presenting the Hamas counteroffer to the Israeli government. Prime Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed repeatedly that Israel's war will not end until there is "complete victory" over Hamas, which includes killing Hamas leadership and "will take time — months not years." Blinken heads to Israel later today.
Blinken says US is reviewing the response from Hamas on hostage proposal
The United States is reviewing the response from Hamas “now,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday. “I’ll be discussing with the government of Israel tomorrow,” Blinken said. The top US diplomat reiterated that the proposal that was presented to Hamas was a “serious” one “that was aimed at not simply repeating the previous agreement, but expanding it.”
“There's still a lot of work to be done, but we continue to believe that an agreement is possible, and indeed essential. And we will continue to work relentlessly to achieve it,” he said at a press conference in Doha.
If there was ever any doubt US is not in this war...
Anyway hopefully Hamas accepts to at least start a pause. The longer the pause, the harder it will be to go back to full scale war for Israel. And hopefully Israel accepts to start a pause as well.
