Israel accepts proposal on Gaza war

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that Israel has accepted a proposal to resolve differences over a cease-fire and the release of hostages in Gaza and called on Hamas to do the same.

The official did not say whether the move addressed the militant group’s concerns.

Blinken spoke at the conclusion of a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was scheduled to travel to Egypt later today. The United States, Egypt and Qatar have already spent months trying to negotiate a deal after talks have stalled on numerous occasions.

Blinken did not say whether the proposal addresses Israel’s demands to maintain control of two strategically important corridors inside Gaza, which Hamas has already said is non-negotiable, and other issues that have long dogged the negotiations.

“In a very constructive meeting today with Prime Minister Netanyahu, he confirmed to me that Israel is in favor of the proposal,” Blinken told reporters. “The next important step is for Hamas to say yes.”

Earlier, the secretary of state said it was time to finalize a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that would bring back Israeli hostages held by Hamas and bring relief to Palestinians who have been under a devastating offensive in the Gaza Strip for more than 10 months.

Blinken’s visit to the Middle East, his ninth since the conflict began in October, came days after mediators including the United States expressed renewed optimism that a deal was near. But Hamas has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the latest proposal and Israel has said there were areas on which it was not prepared to budge.

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