US, UK urge Hamas to accept Israeli truce proposal in Gaza war

 

The United States and the United Kingdom have urged Hamas to accept an Israeli proposal for a truce in the Gaza war and the release of some hostages held in the besieged territory.

 

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Monday that the Israeli proposal delivered to Hamas includes a 40-day ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of “potentially thousands” of Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of some Israeli hostages.

 

At a World Economic Forum gathering on Monday in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Cameron called the offer "generous."

He emphasized that until all of the prisoners are freed, the war would not end. "I hope Hamas accepts the proposal in front of them," he stated.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his expectation that Hamas will agree to the plan earlier on Monday.

“They have to decide – and they have to decide quickly … I’m hopeful that they will make the right decision,” Blinken said.

 

For months, Egypt, Qatar, and the US have been attempting to negotiate a settlement between Israel and Hamas; however, a recent rush of diplomatic activity seemed to indicate a fresh attempt to put an end to the nearly seven months of hostilities.

 

Palestinian authorities in the besieged area of Gaza said that since October 7, at least 34,488 people have died and 77,643 more have been wounded in the Israeli assault on the territory.

 

After Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,139 people—an estimate based on official Israeli figures by Al Jazeera—and taking about 250 more captive, Israel declared war on Gaza.

 

Dozens of hostages were released by Palestinian groups in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails during a previous weeklong truce in late November.