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| Mediators presented the latest ceasefire proposal more than two weeks ago |
Hamas has responded to criticism from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for not yet accepting a ceasefire proposal, asserting it has shown "positivity" towards the negotiations. The group stated it had "dealt positively... with the latest proposal and all proposals to reach a ceasefire agreement." In contrast, Hamas noted, "while Blinken continues to talk about 'Israel’s' approval of the latest proposal, we have not heard any Israeli official voicing approval."
Mr. Blinken has repeatedly stated that Israel accepted a ceasefire proposal outlined by President Biden on May 31. Although Israel's government has not officially confirmed this, an Israeli plan formed the basis for Mr. Biden's declaration. Speaking in Qatar on Wednesday, Mr. Blinken expressed frustration with Hamas's response to the Israeli ceasefire proposal, which the group delivered on Tuesday. While the details of the response have not been made public, Mr. Blinken said Hamas proposed changes, some of which were unworkable.
"At some point in a negotiation – and this has gone back and forth for a long time – you get to a point where if one side continues to change its demands, including making demands and insisting on changes for things that it already accepted, you have to question whether they’re proceeding in good faith or not," Mr. Blinken remarked.
In a series of statements on Wednesday night, Hamas questioned whether Israel had actually accepted either the plan or a UN Security Council resolution endorsing it. "The world did not hear any welcome or approval from [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu" and his government to the resolution, Hamas said. "Rather, they continued to emphasize the rejection of any permanent ceasefire, in clear contradiction with the Security Council resolution and President Biden’s initiative."
Hamas asserted it had "clearly expressed its positive position on what was included in US President Joe Biden’s speech" and on "what was included" in the resolution. The group also confirmed its "readiness to cooperate" with mediators involved in the ceasefire negotiations.
After meeting with Mr. Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, Mr. Blinken said the prime minister had "reaffirmed his commitment" to the ceasefire proposal. Although Mr. Netanyahu has not publicly endorsed the plan, the war cabinet he leads authorized the proposal delivered to Hamas on May 27. This proposal, reportedly longer than the summary presented by Mr. Biden, has not been made public, making it unclear whether it varies from what the president conveyed in his televised statement at the end of last month.
One of the main sticking points appears to be the differing visions for ending the war. Reports suggest Hamas is insisting on written guarantees that Israel will end the war before agreeing to the plan. Mr. Netanyahu has stated the war will not end until Hamas's "governing and military capabilities" have been destroyed and the hostages returned.
The conflict began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 others as hostages back to Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that more than 37,000 people have been killed in Israel's offensive since then.
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