AMMAN, April  30, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
demanded Tuesday that Hamas accept a proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and release
of hostages as the Palestinian militant group prepared its response.
       "Now it's on Hamas. No more delays, no more excuses. The time to act is
now," Blinken told reporters on the outskirts of Amman.
       "We want to see in the coming days this agreement coming together," he
said.
       Blinken was asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vow to
go ahead with a ground assault on Gaza's civilian-packed city of Rafah
regardless of the outcome of negotiations on a temporary ceasefire.
       Blinken did not respond directly to the question, saying that Washington's
focus was on reaching a truce deal, which is being brokered by Egypt and Qatar,
and credited Israel with compromising in negotiations.
       "That (a truce) is the best way, the most effective way, to relieve the
suffering and also to create an environment in which we can hopefully move
forward to something that is really sustainable and has lasting peace for the
people who so desperately need it," he said.