Blinken: US will discuss Hamas's response with Israel

(Patria) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday that the US is considering Hamas's response to a framework agreement on the release of hostages as part of an extended pause in fighting in Gaza.

Blinken told a press conference in Qatar that he would discuss Hamas's response with Israeli officials when he visits the country on Wednesday. He declined to reveal details of Hamas's response.

He emphasized that Washington would use every means at its disposal to achieve a pause in fighting based on the earlier release of more than 100 hostages.

- There is still a lot of work to be done, but we still believe that an agreement is possible and indeed necessary. The US is determined to use every pause in fighting to build a diplomatic path towards "just and lasting peace" in the Middle East - Blinken said.

Hamas announced yesterday that it had submitted its response to Egypt and Qatar regarding the framework ceasefire agreement proposed for the Gaza Strip.