We are completely confident it was an Israeli proposal.
Obviously it was a proposal that they developed in consultation
with the United States and Qatar,
in Egypt, the three countries that have played the mediating
role throughout this process.
But this was ultimately an Israeli proposal in terms of
where it stands.
It was submitted to Hamas on Thursday night.
We have yet to hear a response.
Our position is, is that you cannot eliminate Hamas just
through military means,
just through a military campaign.
And this has been the experience of the United States
in counterterrorism activities all around the world that a military
means by itself.
Without some kind of political path for the population will
ultimately prove.
Ineffective. And you can take out terrorists and see those
terrorists replaced and ultimately find yourself in the same strategic
position you did at the start of the campaign.
And so that's why you have to pair a military
campaign,
which Israel has executed with a political plan for the
people in Gaza.
And that is ultimately what we are trying to pursue.