U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated that if Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, determines that he is safe in a tunnel and believes a ceasefire proposal is not in his interest because he feels secure, then that is an assessment he can make. Miller added, "But I think it is very clear that (the proposal) is in the interest of the Palestinian people," considering it "almost identical" to the proposal Hamas presented a few weeks ago, and expressed hope that Hamas would not change its position.
Miller confirmed that the United States had not yet received a response from Hamas regarding the ceasefire proposal it presented to them on Thursday. On Monday, the United States announced it had distributed a draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council supporting a ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas revealed by President Joe Biden last week, urging Hamas to accept the proposed agreement.
A senior White House official stated that Israel had shown willingness to agree to the ceasefire and the release of hostages announced by President Biden, indicating that the ball is now in Hamas's court. Biden had confirmed to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a phone conversation that Hamas was the only obstacle to a truce agreement with Israel in Gaza and urged him to pressure the group to accept it, according to the White House.
The White House's statement regarding the talks noted that Biden "confirmed that Hamas is the only obstacle to a complete ceasefire" and "confirmed Israel's readiness to proceed" with the terms of the proposal announced last week. Biden announced on Friday what he described as a three-phase Israeli plan that would end the war, secure the release of all hostages, and rebuild the devastated Palestinian sector without Hamas in power.
