US, Qatar, Egypt to Present New Ceasefire Proposal to Israel and Hamas
The United States, Qatar, and Egypt are preparing to roll out a new ceasefire proposal to Israel and Hamas in the coming days, Bloomberg reports, citing Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
This move comes as the Biden administration continues its efforts to end the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
Blinken said that 90% of the ceasefire agreement has already been agreed upon. The remaining sticking points are under the control of the Philadelphi corridor, a border area between Gaza and Egypt, and the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
“We’re in very active discussions, first of all, with our partners in this effort, Egypt and Qatar, and I expect in the coming days we will share with Israel, and they’ll share with Hamas, our thoughts – the three of us – on exactly how to resolve the remaining outstanding questions. And then it will be time, really, for the parties to decide – yes or no,” Blinken told reporters.
While President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire framework in May, and US officials have indicated a deal is close, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar have yet to agree to the terms. Netanyahu stated on Thursday that Hamas is not ready for a deal and that “unfortunately, it’s not close.”
The urgency for a ceasefire has increased following the discovery of six Israeli hostages shot dead in a Gaza tunnel last weekend. This tragic event sparked protests in Israel demanding a deal.
Despite the war’s disruption, Blinken expressed optimism about the potential for a normalization pact between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a prospect that had been stalled.
“If we can get ceasefire in Gaza, there remains an opportunity for the balance of this administration to move forward on normalization,” Blinken said, acknowledging that the deal would require a pathway to a Palestinian state, a proposal Israel’s leadership has previously rejected.
