Israeli delegates returning from Qatar, after participating in ceasefire and truce negotiations in Gaza, expressed cautious optimism, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s office. The office of Netanyahu added that there is hope that significant U.S. and mediator pressure on Hamas will lead the group to reconsider its opposition to the American proposal, which includes elements acceptable to Israel.
A New Proposal for Israel and Hamas
The United States also presented a new proposal for Israel and Hamas at the conclusion of the two-day talks in Doha, in an attempt to bridge the remaining gaps and reach an agreement.
An American official considered that the proposal nearly closes all the remaining gaps that were under discussion during the past six weeks. Israeli officials familiar with the Gaza deal discussions told “Yisrael Hayom” that significant progress has been made in various areas of the deal with mediators, aiming to agree on the broad outlines by Wednesday. The officials emphasized that Tel Aviv would remain in the Philadelphia Corridor, an area controlling the movement of civilians north of the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu still demands a written agreement from Washington that allows Israel to resume fighting against Hamas after the deal ends. The broad outlines of the agreement were delivered to Hamas abroad, awaiting a response from Hamas leaders in Gaza.
In a related context, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left the United States on Saturday evening, heading to Israel as part of a new attempt by Washington to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. During his previous trips, Blinken also visited several Arab countries in the region. This time, no other stops were announced.
This is Blinken’s ninth trip to the Middle East since the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7th. This trip, which Blinken postponed his holiday for, came two days after talks in Doha about a ceasefire in Gaza called for by U.S. President Joe Biden. American officials said progress was made in the talks.
After the two-day talks, which were not attended by the Palestinian movement, the mediating countries—the United States, Qatar, and Egypt—announced a new proposal that “narrows the gaps” between Israel and Hamas to stop the fighting, which has been ongoing for more than ten months, and to release Israeli hostages.
President Joe Biden confirmed that an agreement on a ceasefire is “closer than ever” as efforts intensify to prevent the war from expanding regionally following the escalation of tensions between Iran and its allies on one hand, and Israel and its allies on the other. However, Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement to France-Presse that “the talk about nearing an agreement on a ceasefire is an illusion,” emphasizing that “the occupation continues to hinder all efforts to complete any agreement,” adding, “We are not facing a real agreement or negotiations, but rather facing the imposition of American dictates.”
An American official acknowledged that the negotiation process has not yet reached its “final stage,” noting that diplomats are currently working on setting up a “cell” that can quickly implement any potential agreement. Reaching a ceasefire agreement would represent a significant victory for Biden as the Democratic Party prepares to meet in Chicago at a convention where Vice President Kamala Harris will officially be nominated to run in the November presidential elections.
Demonstrators supporting the Palestinians are expected to protest at the margins of the conference to denounce Biden’s pro-Israel government policy. The United States recently agreed to a $20 billion weapons sale to Israel.
The war broke out following an attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7th, which resulted in the death of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. During the attack, 251 people were kidnapped, 111 of whom are still detained in Gaza, including 39 whom the army says have died. The Israeli airstrikes, shelling, and ground operations in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 40,074 people, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.
