What are the specific demands Hamas has made that Blinken finds unacceptable?
According to the reports, Secretary of State Antony Blinken finds some of Hamas’s latest demands regarding the proposed cease-fire agreement unacceptable, though the specific demands are not explicitly stated. However, we can infer a few key sticking points from the information provided:
Hamas insists on a permanent cease-fire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before releasing the remaining hostages, while Israel aims to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities first.[1]
Hamas fears that if it releases hostages during the initial six-week phase of the plan, Israel may resume hostilities once its most vulnerable captives are released.[1]
Hamas has rejected key elements of the UN-backed truce deal that Israel had previously agreed to.[5][3]
Hamas demands an end to the ongoing Israeli aggression and siege on Gaza as a precondition for entering into negotiations for a “complete agreement” that includes a comprehensive prisoner exchange deal.[5]
So while the specific unacceptable demands are not explicitly stated, Blinken seems to take issue with Hamas’s insistence on permanent concessions upfront before any phased implementation, as well as their rejection of elements already agreed upon in the proposed deal.[1][3][5]