Blinken, Netanyahu, Hamas blame each other for lack of deal

Hibapress / The press

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas on Sunday blamed each other for the failure of mediators to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza, at the start of a visit to Israel by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

On the eve of his meeting Monday morning with Mr. Blinken, Mr. Netanyahu called for “directing pressure on Hamas” and “not towards the Israeli government,” denouncing a “stubborn refusal” by the Palestinian Islamist movement to conclude an agreement, after two days of negotiations in Doha between the Israeli side and the American, Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

“We hold Benjamin Netanyahu fully responsible for thwarting the efforts of the mediators and obstructing an agreement, and for the lives of the hostages,” Hamas said in a statement.

Mr. Blinken’s visit, his ninth to Israel since the start of the war in Gaza, aims to convince “all parties” to drive an agreement “to the finish line,” a U.S. representative accompanying him said after his arrival in Tel Aviv.