In an address to reporters at the G7 summit in Italy, President Joe Biden revealed that Hamas was responsible for blocking a proposed ceasefire and hostage deal which had been approved by both the United Nations Security Council and the Israeli government. This deal, aimed at alleviating the suffering of Palestinian civilians, has become stalled due to Hamas’s refusal to sign on despite having submitted a similar proposal themselves.
According to The Jerusalem Post, President Biden remarked that “the biggest hang-up so far is Hamas refusing to sign on even though they have submitted something similar,” leaving the deal’s ultimate success in question. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also placed blame on Yayha Sinwar, a leader of the Gaza-based militant group Hamas. He criticized Sinwar for not making decisions that would benefit the people he claims to represent and instead hiding away underground while they suffer every day.
Additionally, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan pointed out that Hamas’s public acceptance of the proposal does not align with their actual stance on it. Instead, Hamas has submitted an amended proposal in response to Biden’s initial offer – some minor alterations are being negotiated, while others remain inconsistent with both President Biden’s vision and the United Nations Security Council’s stance.
The Biden administration initially believed that if they put forward a deal that mirrored one Hamas had proposed previously, framing it as a benefit to Palestinian civilians, Hamas would be willing to accept the bargain. However, it seems they may have overlooked the fact that Hamas’s main concern is their own survival, and Sinwar is willing to sacrifice Palestinian lives in order to achieve this goal.
Despite these challenges, the United States continues to push for a deal that would provide relief to the suffering people of Gaza and pave the way for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.