Blinken: Hamas must accept the peace proposal

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced commitment Wednesday to achieving a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, to include the release of hostages Hamas keeps in Gaza and said the only obstacle to realise this “is Hamas”.

At a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzeg in Tel Aviv, Secretary Blinken said that “koha is now” to act on the ceasefire proposal.

Mr. Blinken also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah, who was called to enable the sending of more aid to Gaza.

“While we continue unabated efforts determined to reach the ceasefire that would bring back hostages to their homes, we must also focus on people in Gaza who are suffering from this conflict caused by Hamas”, he said.

The top American diplomat has repeatedly called on Hamas to accept the ceasefire proposal during his recent trip to the region, which included stops in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

His visit to Tel Aviv is the last stop on this trip, the seventh since the crisis began following Hamas' attack in Israel on 7 October.

President Herzeg said the return of hostages held by Hamas “is and should be the international community's top priority”.

After the meeting, Mr. Blinken spoke to the families of the hostages who were demonstrating outside, bearing signs and throwing slogans for the return of hostages.

The behaviour of your loved ones at home is the focus of all we're trying to do”, he said.

Hamas is believed to still hold about 100 hostages, along with the remains of about 30 others, after taking about 250 people hostage in the October 7th attack in Israel, where militants killed 1200 people.

Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has caused more than 34,500 people, about two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas. / VOA/