For Thursday’s installment of CBS Mornings, foreign correspondent Debora Patta mourned that Israel has rejected a Hamas proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release, but never explained why, which is important because such a proposal would lead to Israel having to accept defeat.
Patta began her report by noting, “As war rages on, a hostage deal so often seems like a mirage. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tried to sound upbeat.”
Blinken was then shown claiming, “While there are some clear nonstarters in Hamas's response, we do think it creates space for agreement to be reached.”
Not sold on the optimism, Patta resumed, “But after five visits to the region, he's going home empty-handed."Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the Hamas proposal as delusional, and he's directed Israeli troops to advance on Rafah, the last remaining refuge for displaced Palestinians.”
While CBS ignored the details, NBC’s Today managed to note that the proposal would have freed several Palestinian. terrorists currently in Israeli jails, while ABC’s Good Morning America added that it would also require Israel to withdraw all of its troops from Gaza during a 4.5-month ceasefire leading to a termination of the war.
As for Patta, she then played a clop of Netanyahu declaring “Total victory over Hamas will not take years. It will take months.”
That was a statement that did not sit well with Patta, “A vow that directly contradicts Blinken's goals of reducing hostilities and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
The only way to reduce hostilities is for Hamas to go away.
Here is a transcript for the February 8 show:
CBS Mornings
2/8/2024
8:13 AM ET
DEBORA PATTA: As war rages on, a hostage deal so often seems like a mirage. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tried to sound upbeat.
ANTONY BLINKEN: While there are some clear nonstarters in Hamas's response, we do think it creates space for agreement to be reached.
PATTA: But after five visits to the region, he's going home empty-handed. Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the Hamas proposal as delusional, and he's directed Israeli troops to advance on Rafah, the last remaining refuge for displaced Palestinians.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Total victory over Hamas will not take years. It will take months.
PATTA: A vow that directly contradicts Blinken's goals of reducing hostilities and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Netanyahu has also enraged some former hostages campaigning to bring the estimated 101 captives back home.
PATTA [TRANSLATING FORMER HOSTAGE ADINA MOSHE]: If you continue on this path to eliminate Hamas," Adina Moshe said, "There will be no more hostages to release. For CBS Mornings," Debora Patta, Jerusalem.
