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Blinken Presses Hamas to OK Proposal 04/30 06:08
The United States stepped up pressure Monday for a cease-fire deal in Gaza
as the secretary of state said a new proposal had been put to Hamas, whose
officials were in Cairo talking to Egyptian mediators. Israeli airstrikes
killed 26 people in Gaza's southernmost town of Rafah, according to hospital
records.
CAIRO (AP) -- The United States stepped up pressure Monday for a cease-fire
deal in Gaza as the secretary of state said a new proposal had been put to
Hamas, whose officials were in Cairo talking to Egyptian mediators. Israeli
airstrikes killed 26 people in Gaza's southernmost town of Rafah, according to
hospital records.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ahead of a visit to Israel this
week, urged Hamas to accept the latest proposal, calling it "extraordinarily
generous" on Israel's part.
The terms were not made public. But according to an Egyptian official and
Israeli media, Israel has softened its position, lowering the number of
hostages it demands that Hamas free during the initial six-week phase of the
cease-fire in return for the release of hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli
prisons.
One question is whether that will be enough to overcome Hamas concerns over
the cease-fire's second phase.
Hamas has demanded assurances that an eventual release of all hostages will
bring a complete end to Israel's nearly seven-month assault in Gaza and a
withdrawal of its troops from the devastated territory. Israel has offered only
an extended pause, vowing to resume its offensive once it is over. The issue
has repeatedly obstructed efforts by U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators during
months of talks.
Some Israeli commentators depicted Israel as at a crossroads: Go for a deal
with a potential end to the war, bringing benefits that could include
normalization of ties with Saudi Arabia, or push ahead with plans including an
attack on Rafah in the hope of crushing Hamas and risk international isolation.
Israel's closest ally, the United States, and others have repeatedly warned
against an offensive on Rafah, saying it would bring a surge in casualties and
worsen a humanitarian catastrophe. More than 1 million Palestinians have sought
shelter in Rafah after fleeing fighting elsewhere.
Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 people.
Overnight and Monday morning, Israeli strikes flattened at least three homes
where extended families of Palestinians were gathered. The dead included nine
women and six children, one them just five days old, according to hospital
records and an Associated Press reporter.
"Everyone was sleeping in their beds," said Mahmoud Abu Taha, whose cousin
was killed with his wife and their year-old baby in a house where at least 10
died. "They have nothing to do with anything."
Egypt has stepped up mediation efforts for a cease-fire deal in hopes of
averting an assault on Rafah, on Gaza's border with Egypt.
An Egyptian official said Israel has lowered the number of hostages it wants
freed in the first stage, down from earlier demands for 40. He did not specify
the new number. Israeli media said it now seeks the release of 33 hostages in
return for the release of some 900 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas is believed to
hold around 100 Israelis in Gaza.
Israel has also shown flexibility on allowing residents to return to
northern Gaza, the Egyptian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity
to discuss the internal talks.
There was no immediate comment from Hamas or Israeli officials.
Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected stopping the war in return for hostage
releases and says an offensive on Rafah is crucial to destroying the militants
after their Oct. 7 attacks on Israel that triggered the fighting. His
government could be threatened if he agrees to a deal, since hardline Cabinet
members demand an attack on Rafah.
At the same time, Netanyahu faces pressure to reach a deal from families of
hostages.
On Monday, the families of two hostages -- Keith Siegel and Omri Miran --
urged both sides to reach an agreement, days after Hamas released a video
showing the men.
"I appeal to Sinwar, please approve this deal. And to the members of the
(Israeli) Cabinet, please approve any deal," said Omri's father, Dany Miran,
referring to Yehiya Sinwar, the top Hamas official in Gaza. He spoke at a news
conference in a Tel Aviv square where supporters of hostage families regularly
hold rallies.
Israeli officials, meanwhile, appeared increasingly concerned that the
International Criminal Court may issue arrest warrants against the country's
leaders.
It was not clear what sparked the concerns. The ICC launched a probe three
years ago into possible war crimes committed by Israel and Palestinian
militants going back to the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. The probe is also looking at
Israel's construction of settlements in occupied territory the Palestinians
want for a future state.
There was no comment from the court on Monday, and it has given no
indication warrants in the case are imminent.
But Israel's Foreign Ministry said late Sunday that it had informed Israeli
missions of "rumors" that warrants might be issued against senior political and
military officials. Netanyahu said Friday that Israel "will never accept any
attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense."
Neither Israel nor the United States accept the ICC's jurisdiction, but any
warrants could put Israeli officials at risk of arrest in other countries. They
would also serve as a major rebuke of Israel's actions at a time when
pro-Palestinian protests have spread across U.S. college campuses.
The International Court of Justice, a separate body, is investigating
whether Israel has committed acts of genocide in the ongoing war in Gaza, with
any ruling expected to take years. Israel has rejected allegations of
wrongdoing and accused both international courts of bias.
In the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, militants stormed through army bases and
farming communities across southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly
civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. Israel's air, sea and ground
offensive in Gaza has killed at least 34,488 Palestinians, mostly women and
children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish
between civilians and combatants in its tally.
Israel blames the high civilian death toll on Hamas because the militants
fight from dense, residential areas. The military says it has killed over
12,000 militants, without providing evidence.
The war has driven around 80% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million from their
homes and pushed northern Gaza to the brink of famine.
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