Netanyahu calls Hamas ceasefire proposal 'delusional' but Blinken sees scope for progress

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Netanyahu calls Hamas ceasefire proposal 'delusional' but Blinken sees scope for progress
By Samia Nakhoul, Andrew Mills, Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Humeyra Pamuk


February 7, 20243:51 PM CSTUpdated 2 hours ago

Summary

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DOHA/TEL AVIV, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rejected Hamas' latest offer for a ceasefire and return of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, but U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said there was still room for negotiation toward an agreement.


Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that rules Gaza, proposed a ceasefire of 4-1/2 months, during which all hostages would go free, Israel would withdraw its troops from Gaza and an agreement would be reached on an end to the war.


The Hamas offer, which was first reported by Reuters, was a response to an earlier proposal drawn up by U.S. and Israeli spy chiefs and delivered to Hamas last week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

Calling Hamas' position "delusional," Netanyahu renewed a pledge to destroy the Islamist movement, saying there was no alternative for Israel but to bring about its collapse.


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