The "Wall Street Journal" quoted Arab mediators stating that Hamas leader in Gaza, Yehya Sinwar, spoke for the first time about the proposed ceasefire deal through Hamas representatives. According to the newspaper, Sinwar considered the proposed deal to be the closest yet to meeting the movement's demands, despite some reservations. Mediators expect Hamas to respond to the proposal soon. Currently, the fate of the deal is tied to Hamas's demand for a path that leads to a permanent end to the fighting, while Israel insists on continuing its military campaign to eradicate Hamas.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Hamas is the "only obstacle" to reaching a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza. He also clarified that Israel had not provided a credible plan for ensuring real protection for civilians in Rafah amid discussions of an imminent invasion of the city, indicating that Washington cannot support a large-scale military operation in Rafah due to the absence of a clear plan and the disproportionate damage it would cause.
Israeli public broadcasting stated Saturday that "Israel will not make any commitments regarding ceasefire issues before assessing Hamas's flexibility." The broadcaster added that "Israel has confirmed that its delegation will not travel to Cairo to continue negotiations until Hamas responds to the ceasefire proposal."
