As the death toll approaches the 35,000 mark in the Gaza Strip, American Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Wednesday evening, May 1, Hamas to accept the new truce proposal in the enclave devastated by seven months of war.
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Antony Blinken, who was continuing his seventh mission in the Middle East in Israel since the start of the war on October 7, said he was determined to wrest “ NOW » an agreement on a truce associated with a release of the hostages held in the Palestinian territory. “ There is a very good proposal on the table currently. Hamas must say yes “, Mr. Blinken told Tel Avivin front of Israeli demonstrators hostile to the war.
A rejection of this proposal on the part of the Islamist movement would be proof that it has “not not the slightest consideration » for the Palestinians, he added later. “ If Hamas truly claims to care about the Palestinians and wants to see their suffering immediately alleviated, it should accept the deal “, said Mr. Blinken, visiting the Israeli port of Ashdod, close to the Gaza Strip.
The mediator countries – Qatar, UNITED STATES And Egypt – await Hamas’ response to a latest proposal providing for a 40-day truce as well as the exchange of hostages for Palestinians held by Israel.
Hamas will respond “ in a very short time », Assured Wednesday to AFP one of its political leaders, Souheil al-Hindi, while stressing that the movement still demanded a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip. Hamas is open to all initiatives to end the war (…) but subject to very clear conditions which cannot be waived “, he said.
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According to an Israeli official, Israel had to wait until “ Wednesday evening » a response from Hamas before deciding whether it would send a delegation to Cairo with a view to a possible agreement. “ Even in these difficult times, we are determined to secure a ceasefire bringing the hostages home and to obtain it now. And the only reason it wouldn’t happen is Hamas “, said Mr. Blinken while meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv. But Israel refuses a permanent ceasefire, saying it is determined to continue the offensive until ” total victory » on the Islamist movement.
Expert Mairav Zonszein, from the think tank International Crisis Grouptold AFP that she was “ pessimistic that Hamas would accept a deal that does not include a permanent ceasefire “.
At the end of November, a one-week truce allowed the release of 105 hostages, including 80 Israelis and dual nationals exchanged for 240 Palestinians detained by Israel. Since then, attempts at mediation have been unsuccessful.
Towards a land offensive on Rafah?
In Jerusalem, Mr. Blinken reiterated during a meeting with the Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu, American opposition to a ground offensive on Rafah, a city transformed into a huge refugee camp housing a million and a half Palestinians, on the southern edge of Palestinian territory. The secretary of state said he suggested to Israel “ better solutions » that a “ large-scale military operation » on Rafah, for “ to face » to Hamas.
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Mr. Netanyahu reiterated on Tuesday that he was determined to carry out this offensive on the city, which he considers to be the last major bastion of Hamas, despite the disapproval of the international community which fears heavy civilian losses. “ The idea of stopping the war before having achieved all our objectives is out of the question. We will enter Rafah and eliminate the Hamas battalions there, with or without an agreement » truce, Mr. Netanyahu said.
The Israeli offensive in the besieged territory has so far left 34,568 dead, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas health ministry.