Biden admin slams Hamas for rejecting UN-approved ceasefire

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized Hamas terrorists for rejecting the recent ceasefire proposal and prolonging the war in the Middle East. The plan had been backed by the United Nations.

Blinken said that the Palestinian terror group could have ended the war by accepting the US-drafted agreement that was nearly identical to the one Hamas laid out last month. Instead, they inserted more demands, while simultaneously insisting on a ceasefire. Blinken asserted that the proposed demands were nonstarters, and expressed extreme frustration about the matter.

Speaking to reporters from Doha, Qatar, Blinken applauded Israel for accepting the ceasefire proposal that the whole "world was behind," saying that "Hamas could have answered with a single word: 'Yes.'"

He expressed that the US has grown tired of negotiating for the release of hostages in exchange for a ceasefire. Blinken also condemned Hamas for taking too long to announce that they were rejecting the proposal that was issued in May.

"They waited almost two weeks and then proposed more changes, a number of which go beyond positions it has previously presented and agreed to," said Blinken.

"As a result, the war will go on and more people will suffer," he added.

Although Blinken refrained from discussing the specifics of the most recent round of demands issued by Hamas, he stated that there are certain aspects of their proposals that are "workable." Others, not so much.

"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 this that it had already accepted, you have to question whether they're proceeding in good faith or not," said Blinken.

"It's time for the haggling to stop and a ceasefire to start. It's as simple as that," he added.
 

Blinken asserted that Hamas is the sole reason there hasn't been a ceasefire yet. He told reporters that despite frustrations, mediators from the US, Qatar, and Egypt will continue to work toward a resolution to "close this deal."

On Monday, the UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly for the proposal that was first issued on May 6.

The three-phase plan of the proposal would commence with the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a six-week ceasefire. Upon the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas, Palestinian civilians would be permitted to return to their residences. Additionally, the distribution of humanitarian aid would be enhanced.

Simultaneously, negotiations would commence regarding the second phase, which involves the "complete withdrawal" of Israeli forces from Gaza and the "permanent cessation of hostilities" in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages.

In the third phase, a reconstruction plan for Gaza would be implemented, and the remains of deceased hostages would be returned.