Blinken also called on Israel to provide more aid to war-torn Gaza (file photo)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Hamas on Tuesday to accept an “immediate ceasefire” with Israel, and Hamas agents met with Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Cairo.
“We have an opportunity to cease fire immediately, bring hostages home, significantly increase the amount of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in desperate need, and also create the conditions for a lasting solution,” Blinken said during a meeting with Qatar’s prime minister in Washington.
“Hamas has the right to decide whether it is ready for a ceasefire,” he said.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, a key mediator of the deal, pledged to “work relentlessly to ensure that this deal is realized.”
“No matter who tries to undermine efforts to achieve peace, we want peace, we want to see an end to humanitarian suffering and we want to see hostages reunited with their families,” he said.
Blinken also called on Israel to provide more aid to war-torn Gaza, where famine warnings are growing and the United States has resorted to airdrops of aid.
“Israel must maximize all possible means and methods to provide assistance to those in need,” Blinken said.
He called on Israel to open more crossings into Gaza and ensure aid reaches those in need.
“We will continue to insist on this every day because the current situation is simply unacceptable,” Blinken said.
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