Hamas rejects Egypt's peace proposal for Gaza, Blinken says
Photo: Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State (Getty Images)
Hamas militants rejected a short-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of four hostages. This proposal had previously been put forward by Egypt for both the Palestinian organization and Israel, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
It is reported that yesterday, the US Secretary of State spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty specifically to discuss the situation in the Middle East.
"The Secretary emphasized the importance of bringing the war in Gaza to an end, securing the release of all hostages, and increasing and sustaining the delivery of humanitarian assistance," the US State Department said.
Additionally, Blinken noted that Hamas "has once again refused to release even a limited number of hostages to secure a ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza."
"He discussed the importance of establishing a path for the post-conflict period that provides governance, security, and reconstruction, " the US State Department added.
Egypt's proposal
About a week ago, it became known that Egypt had proposed a peace plan for Gaza, which would begin with a preliminary 48-hour ceasefire during which Hamas militants would prepare to release four Israeli hostages. According to media reports, the terrorists were supposed to release them within the next ten days.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi proposed declaring a two-day truce between Hamas and Israel at the end of October. He stated that the proposal also included the release of some Palestinian prisoners and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave.
According to the Israeli publication The Times of Israel, the four hostages were to fall under the so-called humanitarian category — that is, they were to be either women, older people, or the sick.
Meanwhile, Arab diplomats informed Israeli media that Tel Aviv, in turn, was expected to release approximately a hundred Palestinian prisoners.
Furthermore, during the 12-day agreement, Israel and Hamas were to conduct negotiations regarding a longer-term ceasefire.
Hamas' position
Hamas militants did not wish to retreat from a proposal announced in early July, which involved abandoning their key demand for a clear commitment from the Israeli side to end hostilities in the region definitively.
This proposal also included several new conditions and was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who added his own new demands to the agreement, including that Israel would retain its military presence in the Philadelphi and Netzarim Corridors.
As a reminder, earlier in October, American broadcaster CNN reported that Israel could exchange the body of killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar for the release of hostages in Gaza.
Additionally, according to Western media, at the end of October, CIA Director Bill Burns discussed with Israeli and Qatari counterparts new formulations for an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.
