US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is holding Hamas responsible if a ceasefire plan supported by the US and UN fails to progress. Blinken urged Hamas to accept the plan outlined by President Biden 11 days ago, emphasizing that the responsibility lies with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to make the decision. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed commitment to the proposal, although it is unclear if it aligns completely with the Israeli proposal presented to Hamas.
Blinken noted Hamas’s positive response to a UN Security Council resolution backing Biden’s plan but emphasized that Hamas’s leadership in Gaza has not provided a conclusive statement. He stated that the onus is on Hamas if the proposal does not progress. The Israeli proposal, agreed upon by Israel’s war cabinet, has not been disclosed to the public, creating uncertainty about its details and variations from Biden’s summary.