By Matthew Lee, Wafaa Shurafa and Sam Magdy | Associated Press
DOHA, Qatar — Qatar’s prime minister said Tuesday that Hamas’ reaction to the latest plan for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages was “generally positive” as he met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was making his latest visit to the Middle East.
Qatar, which has long mediated with Hamas, has been working with the U.S. and Egypt to broker a cease-fire that would involve an extended halt in fighting and the release of the over 100 hostages still held by Hamas after its Oct. 7 cross-border raid that ignited the war nearly four months ago.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani did not provide any details on Hamas’ response but said the group had “comments.” Blinken confirmed that officials had received Hamas’ response and said he would brief Israel’s leaders when he visits the country on Wednesday.
Hamas said in a statement that it responded in a “positive spirit” to the latest proposal from the U.S. and Mideast mediators. But the militant group said it still seeks “a comprehensive and complete” cease-fire to end “the aggression against our people.” Israel has ruled out the kind of permanent cease-fire sought by the militant group.
Blinken met with Egyptian officials earlier in the day and was in Saudi Arabia on Monday.
His visit also comes amid growing concerns in Egypt about Israel’s stated intentions to expand the combat in Gaza to areas on the Egyptian border that are crammed with displaced Palestinians.
Israel’s defense minister has said his country’s offensive will eventually reach the town of Rafah, on the Egyptian border, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have sought refuge and are now living in increasingly miserable conditions.
U.N. humanitarian monitors said Tuesday that Israeli evacuation orders now cover two-thirds of Gaza’s territory, driving thousands more people every day toward the border…
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