Antony Blinken Says Hamas Is the ‘Only Thing’ Standing In Way of Ceasefire After ‘Extraordinarily Generous’ Israeli Offer

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that if a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas is not reached in the coming days, the blame will lie solely with the latter party during an appearance at a World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh Monday.

“Hamas has before it a proposal that is extraordinarily, extraordinarily generous on the part of Israel,” said Blinken. “And in this moment, the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas.”

“They have to decide and they have to decide quickly. So we’re we’re looking to that, and I’m hopeful that they will make the right decision,” concluded the United States’ top diplomat.

Hamas has rejected numerous ceasefire offers from the Israelis over the course of the conflict, which began last fall after the terrorist group launched an unprovoked attack on Israel that left over a thousand dead, and saw others raped, tortured, and taken hostage.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has also characterized the Israeli offer as “very generous,” indicating that it would pause hostilities for 40 days. Around 133 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 of last year are still believed to be in its custody. Israeli officials have indicated that they would be willing to move forward with the temporary ceasefire deal — which would also include the release of Palestinian prisoners — in exchange for 33 of the hostages.

The Israeli offer could be the last chance at delaying a potential invasion of Rafah, a southern Gaza city where many refugees from the north have moved over the course of the conflict.

Hamas rejected a previous ceasefire deal earlier this month while demanding a “permanent ceasefire” as well as “the withdrawal of the occupation army from the entire Gaza Strip” and the “start of reconstruction,” according to Reuters.

Watch above via CNN.

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