Blinken: Up to Hamas to accept an ‘immediate ceasefire’ with Israel

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calls on Hamas to accept an “immediate ceasefire” with Israel as talks between the terror group and Egyptian and Qatari mediators drew to a close in Cairo.

“We have an opportunity for an immediate ceasefire that can bring hostages home, that can dramatically increase the amount of humanitarian assistance getting to Palestinians who so desperately need it, and then also set the conditions for an enduring resolution,” Blinken says during a visit by the Qatari prime minister in Washington.

“It is on Hamas to make decisions about whether it is prepared to engage in that ceasefire,” he says.

“It’s also urgent — irrespective of a ceasefire — to dramatically increase the humanitarian assistance that is getting to people inside Gaza,” Blinken continues.

“The situation for children, for women, for men who were caught in the crossfire of Hamas’s making making inside of Gaza is unacceptable and unsustainable.”

“Israel has to maximize every possible means, every possible method of getting assistance to people who need it.”

“It requires more pauses, it requires more aid getting… it requires making sure that it can get to the people in need.”

“We’ll continue to press that every single day because the situation as it stands is simply unacceptable,” Blinken concludes.