Israel Rejects Hamas Hostage Proposal, Calling It 'Delusional' | VOANews

Wednesday marked four months since the October 7th crossb attacks by Hamas that killed 1,200 people in Israel and saw the US designated terrorist group taking some 240 people hostage about 135 hostages are still unaccounted for ceremonies were held in cities around the world including Paris the top us Diplomat Anthony blink is in the Middle East to push for the release of the hostages including six Americans and an extended pause in the fighting to get more humanitarian Aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed a proposal by Hamas which reportedly called for the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza today I told Secretary of State blinkin that after defeating Hamas we will make sure that Gaza be demilitarized for good the history already proved that there is only one force that can promise such a thing the state of Israel through the IDF and our security forces at a separate press conference late Wednesday blinkin had this to say about the Hamas counter offer while there are some clear non-starters in hamas's response uh we do think it creates space for agreement to be reached and we will work at that relentlessly until we get there in Tel Aviv a group of freed Israeli hostages appealed to Netanyahu to push for a hostage deal and your D again I am turning to you Mr Netanyahu everything is in your hands you are the one that can and I am very scared very afraid that if you continue in this line of bringing down Hamas there won't be any hostages to free anymore in his talks with Israeli officials blinkin said that the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza is still far too high and that any military operation against Hamas needs to put the safety of civilians first and foremost according to the Hamas run Ministry of Health and Gaza at least 27,485 killed in the Gaza Strip since October the 7th about 70% of those killed are reported to be women and children more than 66,800 Palestinians have reportedly been injured Lincoln also held talks in rala in the West Bank with Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas Lincoln will hold more talks in Israel on Thursday and plans to meet with the families of hostages by Hamas Cindy s vaa news the state department

Channel: Voice of America

Views: 23,576

Keywords: Antony Blinken, Israel-Hamas war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli hostages

Id: yX86UhtkccU

Length: 3min 10sec (190 seconds)

Published: Thu Feb 08 2024