The White House assessed today that the statements of Hamas regarding the proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza related to the release of hostages are "not very encouraging", although the mediators are still waiting for the official response of the Palestinian Islamist movement.
"We've seen Israel take a few steps forward in terms of what it offers to the negotiating table. And of course we've seen public statements from Hamas that have not been very encouraging," White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters.
However, Sullivan added that he spoke with Qatari Prime Minister Mohamed ben Abdelrahman Al Thani this morning, who said that he had not yet received Hamas's response to the proposed agreement.
The proposal was made during a marathon meeting Sunday in Cairo, according to Sullivan, attended by representatives of the Israeli government and Hamas through mediators from Egypt, the United States and Qatar.
"I have pressed for a response from them as soon as possible and as soon as we have more information on the subject, we will pass it on to you," Sullivan told reporters.
He said it was time to conclude a truce.
"We are ready, I think Israel is ready, and I think Hamas should come to the table and be ready to conclude it as well," Sullivan said.
Hamas announced today that it is considering a proposal for a weeks-long truce in fighting and airstrikes in Gaza, with the release of dozens of Israeli hostages, although some of its demands have been rejected.
(BETA)
The UN Security Council decided to respond to Palestine's request for full membership in the United Nations by the end of April, which the Palestinian Authority described as "historic" and Israel strongly condemned.
"The Council decided to consider it during April" - said on Monday Vanessa Fraser, the ambassador of Malta, who chairs the Security Council this month.
In September 2011, the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, initiated the procedure seeking "the accession of the State of Palestine to the UN", but the procedure has not been completed since then. In November 2012, Palestine received the status of a "non-member observer state" of the UN.
Palestine updated its request for UN membership with a letter to the UN Security Council last week pointing to the Israeli offensive in Gaza, and the body launched a review process on Monday.
"This is a historic moment," commented the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour.
The chances of success are more than slim.
First, a positive recommendation by the Security Council with at least nine votes "for", without a veto by any permanent member, and then a two-thirds majority vote in the UN General Assembly would be required.
Observers predict a veto by the United States, which already opposed it in 2011.
"Our position is known and has not changed" - American Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield repeated on Monday after the first meeting behind closed doors of the "Committee for the Admission of New Members", formed in the Council.
The United States of America believes that the UN is not the place to recognize a Palestinian state, but that it should be the result of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
The US is also highlighting its bill that plans to cut UN funding if the Security Council accepts a Palestinian state without such a bilateral agreement.
Despite everything, the members of the Council decided that the work of the "Committee for the Admission of New Members" was useful and that group of ambassadors will meet again on Thursday - the Ambassador of Malta reported.
Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, strongly condemned the Palestinian request from the floor of the General Assembly and the fact that "the Security Council is discussing the recognition of a 'Palestinian' state" - he said.
The ambassador assessed that the very consideration of that request is "already a victory" for those who committed and supported the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, which started the war in Gaza. He said that those who supported the Hamas attack believe - like the Americans - that a Palestinian state should be the result of negotiations on a "permanent solution" that have been stalled for years.
The Israeli government opposes the two-state solution advocated by the vast majority of the international community, including the United States.
"All we are asking is to take our rightful place in the community of states," said Palestinian UN ambassador Mansour, who is hoping for a Security Council vote on April 18.
Asked about the existence of a draft resolution on the matter, Algerian ambassador Amar Benjamin replied: "Not yet, but it will be soon."
If there is an American veto, it would not be the first time that a request for admission to the UN would be blocked in the Security Council.
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union repeatedly blocked the admission of allied countries of the opposite bloc. The last veto was in 1976, when the Americans blocked Vietnam's admission to the UN.
(BETA)
Turkey today limited the export of goods to Israel, in response to the war in Gaza, the Turkish Ministry of Trade announced.
The restriction applies to steel, iron and aluminum products.
"This decision will remain in force until Israel declares an immediate ceasefire and allows the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza," the ministry said in a statement.
Ankara said on Monday that Israel had blocked a Turkish request to airlift humanitarian aid to Gaza.
"There is no excuse for Israel to block our attempt to parachute aid to the starving residents of Gaza," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.
"We have decided to take a series of new measures against Israel," he added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and has repeatedly called Israel a "terrorist state".
(BETA)
Conflict between Israel and Hamas - 186th day.
Hamas announced that Israel's proposal, which it received from Qatari and Egyptian mediators, does not meet any of the Palestinian group's demands, reports Reuters.
However, Hamas says it will study the proposal, which has been described as "unyielding", and submit its response to mediators.
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