Blinken presses Hamas to seal cease-fire with Israel, says 'the time is now' for a deal

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MATTHEW LEE, SAM MEDNICK and SAMY MAGDY
Updated 6:30 PM CDT, May 1, 2024

JERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hiked up pressure on Hamas on Wednesday to accept the latest proposal for a cease-fire with Israel, saying the “time is now” for an agreement that would free hostages and pause the nearly seven months of war in Gaza.

But a key sticking point appeared to remain — whether the deal would completely end Israel’s offensive as Hamas has demanded.

Blinken met with Israeli leaders throughout the day on the last stop of his seventh visit to the region since the war erupted in October, trying to push through what has been an elusive deal between Israel and Hamas. The U.S. and fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar hope to avert an Israeli offensive into the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where some 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering.

Throughout months of talks, Hamas has said the freeing of all the hostages it holds must bring a permanent halt to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-05-01-2024-7cbf7c696989cdc3a22383c823fb2e0e

[Lonestarblue]

1. Here's hoping this happens soon.

[Novara]

2. Hamas said if Israel goes into Rafah, all negotiations are off.

It would seem that Blinken needs to be negotiating with Israel.

Biden said that U.S. support was contingent on them not going into Rafah.

It would seem that Blinken needs to be negotiating with Israel.

[AZLD4Candidate]

3. That's like the kidnapper saying if he doesn't get the exact car he wants to escape, he'll kill the child

Amazing how Hamas thinks.

As Molah Ram said in Temple of Doom: "You are in a position unsuitable to give orders."

[Beastly Boy]

5. Blinken has a deal with Israel. Israel is on board.

Blinken doesn't have a deal with Hamas. Hamas is stalling.

So Blinken has to be negotiating with Israel.

Can't argue with that logic. Quite literally, you just can't.

[maxsolomon]

6. Blinken IS negotiating with Israel. All along.

Did you read the snipped paragraphs?

Hamas wants the terms to be an armistice not an initial temporary ceasefire. Blinken cannot negotiate directly with Hamas; that's Egypt and Jordan's task.

Although the proposal is to allow the ceasefire that would become permanent, they've been holding to that position for months now, no matter the growing desperation and destruction outside their tunnel refuges.

[Happy Hoosier]

7. How about Hamas accept the cease fire deal first?

The goal posts are always moving.

[AZLD4Candidate]

4. Is this yet another cease fire they will break and then manipulate the world into thinking they are the victims?

Hamas is good at gaslighting and the world falls for it EVERY time.