US President Joe Biden warned on Friday all parties in the region against undermining efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, stating that an agreement is close. In a statement, Biden mentioned that his Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, would visit Israel on Saturday, specifically “to emphasize that as we near a comprehensive ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages, no one in the region should take actions that could undermine this process.”
Biden expressed his belief that an agreement is now on the horizon but cautioned that it “isn’t over yet.” Later, Biden told reporters that he was optimistic about the prospects of reaching a ceasefire, saying, “As of an hour ago, it was still on the table. I’m optimistic. It’s not close to being over. There are a few other issues. I think we have a chance.” When asked about the timing of a potential ceasefire, Biden responded, “That remains to be seen.”
Israel insists that peace will only be possible if Hamas is destroyed, while Hamas has stated it will only accept a permanent ceasefire, not a temporary one, according to Reuters. Ceasefire talks in Doha paused on Friday and are expected to resume next week. In a joint statement, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt said Washington had made a new proposal. Washington, Israel’s most important ally, believes a ceasefire would reduce the growing threat of expanding the Israeli war on Gaza.
Biden initially proposed a three-phase ceasefire in a speech on May 31, but mediators have faced repeated obstacles. The Israeli assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and displaced nearly the entire population of the 2.3 million residents, causing a hunger crisis and leading to accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which Israel denies.
