Hamas negotiators were scheduled to meet Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Cairo on Monday to respond to a phased ceasefire proposal made by Israel over the weekend.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and with representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and the Palestinian Authority attend the US-Arab Quint Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 29, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, Mr. Blinken said: “Hamas is facing an extremely generous proposal from Israel.”
“The only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas. They have to decide and they have to decide quickly. I hope they make the right decision,” he said.
A source briefed on the talks said Israel's proposal included a deal to release about 40 of the roughly 130 hostages believed to be still being held in Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinians held in Israel.
The second phase of the ceasefire agreement will include a "prolonged period of calm", in preparation for a permanent ceasefire.
According to Israeli statistics, a total of 253 hostages were taken in a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, in which about 1,200 Israelis were also killed.
Israel retaliated by imposing a total siege on Gaza and launching an air and ground offensive that killed an estimated 34,500 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health authority.
Palestinians are suffering severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine in a humanitarian crisis caused by the offensive that has destroyed large parts of the tiny territory.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who is also in Riyadh for the WEF meeting, also described Israel's proposal as "generous". He told the WEF audience it included a 40-day pause in fighting and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages.
“I hope Hamas does this deal and frankly all the pressure in the world and all the eyes in the world will be on them today saying ‘do that deal’,” Mr Cameron added.
Mr Cameron is among foreign ministers meeting in Riyadh, including the US, France, Jordan and Egypt, as part of a diplomatic effort to end the war in Gaza.
Bui Huy (according to Reuters, CNN)
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