Blinken Condemns Hamas for Rejecting Cease-Fire Proposal Amid Gaza Conflict

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized Hamas for rejecting a UN-backed cease-fire proposal, stating that the militant group had the power to end the conflict in Gaza with a simple agreement.

Addressing reporters from Qatar on Wednesday, Blinken noted that the current proposal closely resembled one Hamas had previously put forward. He accused Hamas of prolonging the conflict to introduce additional demands that could jeopardize ongoing peace negotiations.

“This was a proposal accepted by Israel with global support. Hamas had the opportunity to respond with a single word: ‘Yes’,” Blinken emphasized during his remarks in Doha.