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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed skepticism about the prospect of Israel and Hamas agreeing to a US-drafted ceasefire proposal, saying some of Hamas' latest demands were unacceptable.
The Wall Street Journal reported on June 13 that the Hamas movement has taken a tough stance on the proposed ceasefire in Gaza with Israel.
Hamas leaders have told Arab mediators that they want Israeli forces to withdraw from the territory bordering Egypt by the end of the first week after the deal is signed, withdraw completely from Gaza and declare a permanent ceasefire before the group releases more Gaza hostages in a second phase.
Mediators said Hamas added those demands after the Israeli army rescued four hostages held by the group in central Gaza in an operation on June 8 that left several Palestinians dead.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington is currently reviewing the content of Hamas' response.
Many of the changes are considered minor and not unforeseen. Others differ more significantly from what was stated in the UN Security Council resolution.
The United States will now work with mediators, particularly Egypt and Qatar, to bridge the final gaps in line with President Joe Biden’s May 31 proposal and the Security Council resolution.
The US aim is to bring this process to a close. The US view is that the time for bargaining is over, it is time for a ceasefire and for the hostages to go home.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed skepticism about the prospect of Israel and Hamas agreeing to a US-drafted ceasefire proposal, saying some of Hamas' latest demands were unacceptable.
On June 13, Mr. Blinken declined to say whether the United States might pursue a separate deal with Hamas to free American citizens still held hostage by the group in Gaza, while talks with Israel on a possible ceasefire continued.
Hamas negotiators have only partially accepted a US proposal to free hostages and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, while some of the group's demands remain unacceptable, according to the Biden administration.
Mr Blinken declined to say whether the US had put any pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after being asked repeatedly whether Israel should show more flexibility on a permanent ceasefire demanded by Hamas.
He made it clear that the fault lay with Hamas, a group considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
Overall, the Gaza ceasefire proposal remains deadlocked, with neither Israel nor Hamas publicly committing to the plan.
VN (according to Vietnam+)