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Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed the Middle East after the U.S. and Israel spiked the newest hostage deal proposed by Hamas on Thursday.
Blinken spent the higher a part of the previous week negotiating with Israel, Egypt, Qatar and Hamas over a possible hostage launch deal. The proposal despatched over by Hamas late on Tuesday contained objects that Israel and the U.S. deemed unrealistic, and Blinken is now departing with little progress being made.
“Clearly there are things that Hamas sent back that are absolute non-starters,” Blinken acknowledged on Wednesday. “But, at the same time, we see space to continue to pursue an agreement. And these things are always negotiations. It’s not flipping a light switch. It’s not ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ There’s invariably back and forth.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was much less charitable together with his phrases, calling the Hamas proposal “delusional” and as soon as once more vowing that the struggle in Gaza would proceed till the terrorist group was totally rooted out.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed the Middle East after the U.S. and Israel spiked the newest hostage deal proposed by Hamas on Thursday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Hamas’ proposed 135-day plan would have seen Israeli hostages launched in levels – girls and youngsters first – in alternate for 1,500 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel, together with 500 Hamas would select from an inventory of these serving life sentences.
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Under that proposal, male hostages over the age of 19 can be launched after the primary 45-day section, at which level Israeli forces would totally withdraw from Gaza.
Despite settlement on rejecting the Hamas deal, Blinken nonetheless admonished Israel for the continued lack of civilian life in Gaza, whereas noting that the IDF has “taken important steps” to guard civilians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to as the Hamas proposal “delusional” and as soon as once more vowed that the struggle in Gaza would proceed till the terrorist group was totally rooted out. (Gil Cohen-Magen/Pool by way of AP)
“On all of my previous visits here and pretty much every day in between, we have pressed Israel in concrete ways to strengthen civilian protection, to get more assistance to those who need it. And over the past four months, Israel has taken important steps to do just that,” Blinken mentioned in an announcement. “And yet … the daily toll that its military operations continue to take on innocent civilians remains too high.”
Blinken admonished Israel for the continued lack of civilian life in Gaza on Wednesday, saying the civilian demise toll “remains too high.” (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Blinken concluded by referencing Saudi Arabia’s openness to formalizing ties with Israel as long as Palestinians are granted a transparent path to an impartial state, one thing Netanyahu has rebuffed.
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“We remain determined as well to pursue a diplomatic path to a just and lasting peace, and security for all in the region, and notably for Israel,” Blinken mentioned.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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