- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday had a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he reportedly pushed for additional humanitarian aid to Gaza and for Hamas to accept a cease-fire proposal. Washington Post (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- Blinken maintained that negotiations with Israel to secure a truce in Gaza and a release of hostages have been stalled because Hamas was "standing in the way." The Times of Israel (a)
- The newest proposal, according to Lebanese outlet Al-Akhbar, posits that Hamas would release 33 Israeli hostages over a 40-day cease-fire in exchange for Israeli forces withdrawing from parts of Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The Times of Israel (b)
- While the second and third stages of the proposal are less clear, Al-Akhbar's report suggests that, after further negotiations and the establishment of conditions for a "sustainable calm," Hamas would also be expected to refrain from rebuilding its military infrastructure in the strip. The Times of Israel (b)
- Though the proposal's details are not official, Associated Press reports suggest that Egyptian and Hamas officials have confirmed its details. Hamas and Egyptian mediators are reportedly still discussing the proposal in Cairo. Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- In contrast to Al-Akhbar's report, Israeli media reported that Netanyahu had told Blinken he wouldn't accept a deal that included ending the war, adding that Israel would still invade Rafah if Hamas insisted on a permanent cease-fire. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
Pro-establishment narrative:
- Hamas should accept this extraordinarily generous deal, especially after the US worked so hard to find a resolution to this terrible situation. However, it should remain clear that Hamas started this war and has considerably lengthened it through its stubbornness in negotiations. The US is committed to finding a solution to this conflict.
CBS (LR: 2 CP: 5)
Pro-Israel narrative:
- Israel has every right to continue this existential war against terror and continue with the planned invasion of Rafah after the atrocities that Hamas committed on Oct. 7. Israel can't cave to international pressure stoked by Israel's enemies, as the country must show its strength and defend its citizens. Israel will not be told by anyone how to manage its security.
JERUSALEM POST (LR: 3 CP: 5)
Pro-Palestine narrative:
- The Biden administration, increasingly anxious over the upcoming election, has resorted to cheap tactics to deny its support for Israel's brutal war on Gaza. The US has armed Israel and refused to call for a permanent cease-fire, which incentivizes continued bloodshed. Israel is starving Palestinians in Gaza, yet Washington would rather blame Palestinians for their suffering than hold Israel accountable.
MIDDLE EAST EYE
Nerd narrative:
- There's a 77% chance that Israel will expand its ground invasion to the city of Rafah before June 1, 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)