Negotiations are ongoing as the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, continues to push Hamas to accept a three-part proposal to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Blinken expressed his frustration over Hamas requesting changes to a new ceasefire proposal that aims to bring an end to the ongoing war in Gaza.
During a press conference in Doha with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Blinken revealed that the Biden administration received Hamas’s response to the ceasefire proposal, which included several modifications to the terms. He stated that some of the changes were acceptable, while others were not.
Despite Hamas’s proposed alterations, Blinken emphasized that the ceasefire proposal closely resembled terms that Hamas had previously supported. He highlighted that Hamas could have simply agreed to the proposal but instead introduced new changes, causing the conflict in Gaza to persist.
Blinken, along with officials from Qatar and Egypt, pledged to work urgently to finalize a ceasefire plan despite the challenges in negotiations. While he did not directly label Hamas’s response as a rejection, Blinken raised concerns about the group’s changing demands and emphasized the need for a ceasefire to commence without further delay.
The White House National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, also addressed questions regarding Hamas’s requested changes to the ceasefire proposal. He mentioned the importance of continued discussions with Egypt and Qatar, who have established communication channels with Hamas, to navigate the situation effectively.
Sullivan noted that President Biden had anticipated some degree of negotiation and adjustments to the ceasefire plan when it was first introduced. He stressed the need for all parties to remain engaged in the negotiations until a mutually agreeable resolution is reached. Please rewrite the following sentence for me.
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