By Paul Adams in Jerusalem, Anthony Zucher in Tel Aviv & Graeme Baker BBC News
Israel has rebuffed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s call for a “humanitarian pause” in Gaza.
Mr Blinken said he had discussed the idea with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials during their talks in Tel Aviv.
But in a TV statement minutes later, Mr Netanyahu said Israel rejected “a temporary ceasefire that does not include the release of our hostages”.
He said that Israel was “continuing with all our force” against Hamas.
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I’m pretty sure Hamas has flatly denied the possibility of hostage release.
What? Hamas is waiting for negotiations for hostage release. It’s Israel that refused. Oh, and also, they’ve already released some of them, though not a lot.
My understanding is that Hamas wants concessions in return for a hostage release. Israel isn’t interested in that.
Which is what they said. Israel refused negotiations.
That’s not refusing negotiations. Hamas wants a ceasefire. Israel wanta it’s hostages. That’s peanutbutter meet jelly. They’re both negotiating they just might not be willing to budge enough to find common ground.
Last I heard hamas wanted a hostage trade (for hamas terrorists). Although Israel unwillingness to comply seems to me less like playing hard ball and more trying to save face after letting hamas attack and take their people.
The last time they traded terrorists for civilians those terrorists were used to conduct a slave raid against their people.