Gaza conflict: Kerry will attempt to broker ceasefire between Israel, HamasKerry reaffirmed U.S. support for Israeli ground offensive in round of TV interviews Sunday Jul 21, 2014 12:53 AM ET United States Secretary of State John Kerry is heading back to the Middle East as the Obama administration attempts to bolster regional efforts to reach a ceasefire and sharpens its criticism of Hamas in its conflict with Israel. The State Department said Kerry would leave early Monday for Egypt where he will join diplomatic efforts to resume a truce that had been agreed to in November 2012. In a statement Sunday evening, department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. and its international partners were deeply concerned about the risk of further escalation, and the loss of more innocent life. The Obama administration has toned down its earlier rebuke of Israel for attacks on the Gaza Strip that have killed civilians, including children, although both President Barack Obama and Kerry expressed concern about the rising death toll. The U.S. will urge the Hamas Palestinian group to accept a ceasefire agreement that would halt nearly two weeks of fighting with Israel. More than 430 Palestinians and 20 Israelis have been killed in that time. Two Americans who fought for the Israel Defense Forces were killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip — Max Steinberg, 24 of California and Nissim Carmeli of Texas. The State Departments Psaki confirmed the names of the two U.S. citizens. Cairo has offered a ceasefire plan that is backed by the U.S. and Israel. But Hamas has rejected the Egyptian plan and is relying on governments in Qatar and Turkey for an alternative proposal. Qatar and Turkey have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is also linked to Hamas but banned in Egypt. Making the rounds of Sunday television news shows, Kerry pointed to Hamas role in the violence. Its ugly. War is ugly, and bad things are going to happen, Kerry told ABCs This Week. But, he added, Hamas needs to recognize their own responsibility. UN chief arrives in region Both Obama and Kerry said Israel has a right to defend itself against frequent rocket attacks by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. Kerry accused Hamas of attempting to sedate and kidnap Israelis through a network of tunnels that militants have used to stage cross-border raids. He said on CNNs State of the Union that Hamas must step up and show a level of reasonableness, and they need to accept the offer of a ceasefire. Then, Kerry said, we will certainly discuss all of the issues relevant to the underlying crisis. The nearly two-week conflict appeared to be escalating as UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrived in the region to try to revive ceasefire efforts. Obama, in a telephone call Sunday, told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Kerry was coming to the Mideast and condemned Hamas attacks, according to a White House statement. Gaza hospitals overwhelmed The UN relief agency in Gaza estimates that 70,000 Palestinians have fled their homes in the fighting and are seeking shelter in schools and other shelters the UN has set up. The relief agencys top director in Gaza, Robert Turner, told CNNs State of the Union that the UN has run out of mattresses for refugees and few hygiene and medical supplies are left, although fresh food and water remain available. People are scared, Turner said. They dont feel safe at home, they dont feel safe with their families or neighbours. They feel relatively safe in our installations ... We frankly have been overwhelmed by the numbers. He said more than 1,000 homes in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged beyond repair, and at least 13,000 lightly damaged. U.S. officials made clear, however, that Hamas could bring relief to the Palestinian people if it agrees to the ceasefire proposed by Egypt — a view that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing as well. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in interviews Sunday that his top goal is to restore a sustainable peace, but then will ask the international community to consider demilitarizing Gaza to rid Hamas of its rockets and shut down the tunnels leading into Israel. Netanyahu brushed off a question about giving concessions to Hamas as a step toward peace, including releasing Palestinian prisoners or loosening border crossings. Hamas doesnt care, Netanyahu said. I think the last thing you want to do is reward them. Kerry also said any ceasefire agreement must be without conditions or any rewards for terrorist behaviour. He did not mention the Qatari or Turkish efforts. Tensions between Israel and Palestinian authorities have been simmering for years. They threatened to boil over this spring when Israel shelved nearly nine months of peace negotiations that were being personally shepherded by Kerry after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to create a unity government with Hamas. No country could sit by and not take steps to try to deal with people who are sending thousands of rockets your way, Kerry said. © The Associated Press, 2014 The Canadian Press
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 06:55:23 +0000