In separate news conferences, U.S. secretary of state said he sees ‘space’ to continue negotiations over a hostage release proposal while Israeli prime minister called Hamas’s demands ‘delusional’
TEL AVIV — Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Hamas’s response to a proposed deal to release hostages in exchange for a humanitarian pause created space to “pursue negotiations” despite certain aspects that included “non-starters.”
Blinken did not specify what aspects of Hamas’s conditions he considered unacceptable, but his assessment in a news conference here contrasted sharply with remarks earlier Wednesday from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called Hamas “delusional” and vowed to continue fighting until a “complete victory” was achieved.
