By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL-On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed hope that Hamas would accept Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal that includes a hostage release deal. Speaking to the press, Blinken said Israel’s proposal is “extraordinarily generous” with a senior Hamas official quoted saying there are “no major issues” with the proposal. This latest deal comes amid weeks of an impasse and mounting pressure on Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu who was accused by many including Israelis, of being “an obstacle to peace.” According to sources, the new proposal has new wording on restoring calm in the region which is a major goal for Hamas. The pressure on Netanyahu and the Israeli government has reached a fever pitch with massive demonstrations across U.S. university and college campuses, with the international community as well as the U.N. calling for an immediate ceasefire and a hostage release.
The first deal that was agreed to in November 2023, had Hamas release 105 hostages in exchange for a week-long ceasefire and releasing 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. This second hoped-for deal has been under Egyptian, Qatari and U.S. mediation for weeks with a back-and-forth between Israel and Hamas that created an impasse. In the early part of April, Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal for a six-week truce and the release of 40 women, children and elderly or sick hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The reason, Hamas said was because it wants a permanent ceasefire, leading to a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Axios news website reported that two Israeli officials said Israel had offered its new proposal that includes the return of Palestinians to the north of Gaza and that Israeli troops would withdraw from the east-west corridor, dividing the territory. Also included in the deal is a willingness to “discuss the establishment of a sustainable ceasefire as part of the implementation of the second phase of the deal which would take place after the release of the hostages.”
Blinken, commenting on the deal from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he’s attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) said “Hamas has before it a proposal that is extraordinarily, extraordinarily generous on the part of Israel. And in this moment, the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas.” He added “They have to decide, and they have to decide quickly…And I’m hopeful that they will make the right decision.” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said “The proposal has taken into account the positions of both sides and has tried to extract moderation.” Shoukry added “There are factors that will have an impact on both sides’ decisions, but I hope that all will rise to the occasion.” On Sunday when U.S. President Joe Biden spoke via phone to Netanyahu, he stressed the need for continual aid to reach civilians in Gaza and U.S. opposition to a full-scale offensive on Rafah in the southern part of Gaza.
