Blinken Intensifies Pressure On Hamas To Accept Hostage/Ceasefire Deal

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has intensified pressure on Hamas to accept a US-broker ceasefire-for-hostage proposal for Gaza outlied by US President Joe Biden on May 31.

• Blinken told reporters, after a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi - the first stop on a multi-leg regional shuttle diplomacy trip - the, "only outlier to ceasefire deal is Hamas," noting, "Egypt counterparts were communicating with Hamas as recently as a few hours ago."
• Blinken says that, "Hamas continues to show extraordinary cynicism in its actions," and says that the best way to secure the release of hostages and ensure fewer civilian casualties is, "through this ceasefire proposal."
• Blinken's trip, his eight to the region since the war broke out in October, is part of a Biden administration pressure campaign on Hamas to accept the proposal. So far, Hamas has been resistant to pressure from the US and Arab states - including threats of sanctions from Egypt and Qatar, citing concerns with the implementation of the ceasefire proposal. It is also unclear if Israel will support any deal which falls short of the elimination of Hamas.
• MNI's Political Risk team noted today that political instability in Israel following the resignation of moderate Benny Gantz from the national unity government, as well as the securing of four live hostages, could spur PM Benjamin Netanyahu to maintain the current war against Hamas in Gaza.
• The United Nations is expected to vote today on a US-backed resolution calling on Hamas to accept the hostage/ceasefire proposal.