Blinken Says Hamas' Changes to Ceasefire Proposal Are Not Workable

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Thursday that Hamas’ response to the latest ceasefire proposal contained changes that were not workable.

For Context: Late last month, President Joe Biden announced a three-phase ceasefire proposal to end the hostilities between Israel and Hamas and rebuild Gaza following nine months of war. The United Nations Security Council endorsed the proposal earlier this week. Most reports indicate Israel has agreed to the proposal, but some outlets are noting lingering uncertainty amid political instability in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency war cabinet.

Key Quotes: Blinken stated, “Hamas could have answered with a single word: Yes,” adding, “Hamas proposed numerous changes to the proposal that was on the table. Some of the changes are workable and some are not.” Hamas’ changes to the deal were not outlined, but Blinken said they “go beyond positions that [Hamas] had previously taken and accepted. As a result, the war will go on and more people will suffer.” Blinken further criticized Hamas, stating, “At some point in a negotiation, and this has gone back and forth for a long time, you get to a point where if one side continues to change its demands, including making demands and insisting on changes for things that it had already accepted, you have to question whether they’re proceeding in good faith or not.”

How the Media Covered It: Coverage across the spectrum contained varying levels of sensationalism when characterizing Blinken’s statements.