US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed frustration on Wednesday over Hamas' submission of numerous changes to a US-backed proposal for a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza. Blinken described some of the changes as workable while others as going beyond positions Hamas had previously taken.
Blinken did not go as far as to describe Hamas' response as a rejection of the proposal but expressed exasperation at both the changes proposed and the length of time it took for Hamas to reply - 12 days. He emphasized that Israel had accepted the proposal as it was, despite doubts raised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
