The United States has announced it is “evaluating” the formal response from Hamas to its Gaza ceasefire proposal.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is working to convert international support for a UN Security Council resolution into pressure on both Hamas and Israel.
On Tuesday evening, a Hamas official mentioned that they had provided a response to Egyptian and Qatari mediators, seeking some “amendments,” with the main goal being to achieve a “complete stop” to the conflict.
Another Hamas spokesperson, Jihad Taha, added that their response included amendments addressing the ceasefire, withdrawal, reconstruction, and a prisoner exchange.
John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, confirmed that Washington had received the reply and was “evaluating it right now,” without giving further details.
During his visit to the Middle East, Blinken reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “reaffirmed his commitment” to the proposal.
Blinken also met with Israeli opposition leaders and spoke privately with families of hostages before heading to Jordan for an emergency summit on humanitarian aid for Gaza.
At this summit, Blinken announced an additional $404 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza and urged other nations to increase their contributions.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas emphasized the international community’s responsibility to pressure Israel to open land crossings into Gaza, while Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for international pressure to prevent Israel from using hunger as a weapon.
Blinken’s itinerary included a visit to Egypt on Monday, with a planned visit to Qatar. Both countries have played crucial roles as mediators with Hamas.
The ceasefire deal, approved by the UN on Monday, was initially introduced by US President Joe Biden at the end of May.
Biden presented it as an Israeli initiative, though Netanyahu has expressed reservations, stating that any ceasefire proposal prior to the destruction of Hamas’s military and governance capacity was a “non-starter.”
This stance seemingly contradicts the agreement’s terms, which propose an initial exchange of elderly, sick, or female hostages for Palestinian detainees held by Israel during the first six-week halt to fighting.
The ceasefire is intended to transition into a permanent end to hostilities and the release of all hostages in a second phase, followed by a major reconstruction effort.
Hamas has indicated that it would only agree to a permanent ceasefire deal, having experienced a collapse of a previous temporary ceasefire last winter.
They have also reportedly requested international guarantees for any ceasefire.
Senior Hamas officials expressed support for the resolution and willingness to negotiate the details. Jihad Taha accused Israel of “stalling and procrastinating” to continue fighting.
The UN vote on Monday marked a significant moment, as a deeply divided Security Council endorsed a comprehensive plan for Gaza for the first time.
Palestinian support for the US resolution complicated any potential vetoes from Russia or China.
This rare display of unity increases pressure on both parties involved in the conflict, although both are heavily influenced by local constituencies and the personal interests of their leaders rather than international public opinion.
Netanyahu’s government has shifted to the right since Biden unveiled the deal, with war cabinet member Benny Gantz resigning due to the lack of a long-term plan for Gaza, bolstering the influence of hardline extremists opposed to the deal.
Despite the pressure from hostages’ families and the international community, Netanyahu faces a complex situation.
Over the weekend, Israeli special forces rescued four hostages in an operation that resulted in the deaths of over 270 Palestinians, mostly civilians, prompting international condemnation.
The UN Human Rights Office expressed shock at the civilian impact and warned of potential war crimes by both Israeli forces and Hamas.
In Gaza, skepticism remains about the ceasefire deal leading to an end to Israeli attacks that have caused over 37,000 deaths and pushed at least half the population to the brink of famine.
Displaced Gazan Shaban Abdel-Raouf remarked, “We will believe it only when we see it,” highlighting the ongoing uncertainty.
Additionally, tensions between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along the northern border were also a concern for Blinken.
Israeli forces killed three fighters late on Monday in an attack on a tanker convoy, and Hezbollah retaliated with a barrage of projectiles towards the Golan Heights on Tuesday.
Blinken conveyed to Gantz that the Gaza ceasefire deal could enhance Israel’s security by easing tensions on the northern border, according to the US State Department.
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