Secretary of State Antony Blinken blamed Hamas for dragging out negotiations to implement a ceasefire with Israel, but said the US would work to address some changes proposed by the armed group that controls the Gaza Strip.
Blinken made his comments alongside Qatar’s prime minister following discussions in Doha about evaluating a response provided by Hamas, which was delivered 12 days after the group initially received the US-led ceasefire proposal.
“If one side continues to change its demands and insist on changes it has already accepted, you have to question whether it is in good faith,” Blinken said, speaking about the frustrations of negotiating with Hamas.
“It is time to stop negotiations and begin the ceasefire. It’s as simple as that,” he added.
President Biden put forward a three-phase proposal late last month that would begin with an immediate, temporary ceasefire that would last six weeks. The US said that Israel has already accepted the proposal and assigned Hamas the responsibility to respond to begin implementing the agreement.
A major point of contention appears to lie between Hamas’s insistence on securing a lasting ceasefire and permanent end to hostilities and Israel merely agreeing to the potential of negotiations for a lasting pause in the fighting.
Blinken said Wednesday that Hamas responded with numerous changes to the original proposal and that the U.S. is committed to working with Qatar and Egypt to resolve differences.
“Some of the changes are feasible, some are not,” he said.
“Israel accepted the proposal, as it was and as it is. Hamas did not do so. I think it is quite clear what needs to happen and we are determined that, in the coming days, we work on this urgently and see if the gaps that are viable we can really work on and bring to a conclusion”, continued the secretary. .
Blinken added: “It may be that Hamas continues to say no. I think it will be clear to everyone around the world that it is their fault and that they made the choice to continue the war they started.”
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said Israel sent contradictory statements about its commitment to the proposal that also “demands pressure on them as well as the other party.”
Qatar is the main interlocutor in negotiations with Hamas, and the group’s political wing can occupy offices in the capital, Doha. Al Thani said the impetus for allowing Hamas to maintain political office in Qatar is to keep lines of communication open and that the reason for keeping them open is still “valid.”
“As mediators, we try our best to respect our role, bridge gaps and not make judgments about one party over another. And our biggest concern is that it is taking too long to fill these gaps,” he said. “We need to end this as quickly as possible. That’s where our focus is.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
