Washington is set to disclose an updated proposal regarding a ceasefire and hostage-release agreement in Gaza in the forthcoming days – possibly over the weekend. This deal will be put forth to both Israel and Hamas, to either accept it or reject it.
Continuous negotiations are being facilitated by the United States along with Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries, with the intention to come to an understanding with Israel prior to pressuring Hamas into agreement.
A high-ranked official within Biden’s administration informed that there are two remaining complications inhibiting the deal – determining the Palestinian security prisoners that Hamas wishes to liberate and the retraction of Israeli forces from the Philadelphi passage along the Egypt-Gaza border.
“Essentially, 90% of this agreement has been established. The terms of this agreement are similar to what Hamas proposed,” the official revealed.
However, in contradiction, Israeli Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu during a chat with Fox News, refuted that an agreement was on the horizon. “That’s simply not accurate,” he stated. “The perception that a deal is forthcoming is false.”
Hamas retaliated by putting the blame on Israel for the stalemate, accusing Netanyahu’s reluctance to withdraw from the Philadelphi passage as a calculated move to avert an agreement to conclude the conflict and to ensure that the hostages are freed.
Jack Lew, US ambassador to Israel, cautioned that the window to free the hostages was closing. “We must act swiftly to save lives – we must acknowledge that if we procrastinate for too long, it might be too late to rescue them,” he advised during a security conference in Tel Aviv.
Consequently, negotiations will aim to unlock a diplomatic solution. “Our first priority is to secure a ceasefire and release of the hostages, subsequently negotiate with Hizbullah in Lebanon for a diplomatic solution in the North and finally, in the limited time we have left, to accomplish normalization with Saudi Arabia,” he further added.
NBC has revealed that relatives of American captives in Gaza are imploring the White House to negotiate independently with Hamas for their loved ones’ liberation. Nevertheless, US officials argue that inclusion of Israel in the agreement is vital, as only they can fulfil Hamas’ requirements.
Over 40,800 Palestinians have lost their lives in the conflict, which commenced on October 7th, as confirmed by the health ministry controlled by Hamas in Gaza. Conversely, Israel has disclosed that the sudden strike by Hamas that day resulted in 1,200 casualties and the capture of 253 hostages. As it stands, Israeli authorities report that of these hostages, around 60 are still alive in Gaza, whereas approximately 35 others are thought to have perished.
The Gaza health ministry asserted on Thursday that Israel is obstructing the entry of medical personnel into the southeast region of the strip, who aim to administer polio vaccinations to numerous Palestinian children.
Meanwhile, amid Israel’s ongoing tenth day operation, the Israeli Defence Forces have announced the fatalities of another seven militants via ground and aerial assaults in the northern West Bank.
There was an incident in Munich when authorities neutralised an 18-year-old, holding a long rifle equipped with a bayonet, near the Israeli consulate following gunfire on Thursday morning. The Bavarian officials have identified the deceased gunman as an Austrian national affiliated with Islamism, intending to launch an offensive against the consulate.
Lastly, Der Spiegel, a German publication, has reported an unsuccessful attempt by Iran to attack Jewish establishments in France and Germany using criminal organisations, as thwarted by European intelligence agencies recently.