The US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said that the endorsement by Hamas officials of the UN Security Council's ceasefire resolution is a “hopeful sign" in the effort to get a truce deal over the line - but that the Hamas leadership inside Gaza needs to sign it off.
The resolution, backed by 14 of the 15 Security Council members – with Russia abstaining – backs a US proposal setting out conditions for a “full and complete ceasefire”, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.
Mr Blinken urged Hamas to accept the deal, and said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal on Monday. Mr Netanyahu has taken a tough stance in public over a deal, saying that Hamas needs to be destroyed – having faced pressure from his hardline government’s coalition allies to continue the war.
This story is from the June 12, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the June 12, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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