Cease-Fire Proposal to End Gaza Conflict
On Thursday, President Biden, alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, expressed their readiness to present a conclusive cease-fire proposal aimed at resolving the ongoing war in Gaza. In a unified declaration, the leaders emphasized the urgency for both Israel and Hamas to reconvene for negotiations next week, with the aim of finalizing the conflict.
In their joint statement, the trio asserted that “the time has come” to reach a definitive agreement that entails a cease-fire and the release of hostages taken to Gaza, as well as Palestinian detainees currently held by Israel. They stressed the importance of arranging for negotiators to gather in either Cairo or Doha, Qatar, next Thursday.
“There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay,” the leaders stated emphatically. “It is time to release the hostages, initiate the cease-fire, and implement this agreement. As mediators, if necessary, we are prepared to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties involved.”
Cease-fire discussions have been stagnant following a meeting in Cairo last weekend that yielded no significant progress. Complicating matters further was the recent assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s political leader, who had been pivotal in guiding the negotiations through intermediaries. President Biden has voiced his frustration regarding Israel’s decision to execute the operation that resulted in Haniyeh’s death in Iran, particularly at a time when he believed the cease-fire discussions were nearing a successful conclusion.
In response to the joint statement from Biden and the other leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated his willingness to participate in the upcoming meeting. “In light of the offer extended by the United States and the mediators, Israel will dispatch its negotiating delegation on August 15 to the designated location to finalize the details for implementing the framework agreement,” his office conveyed through a statement.
However, uncertainties loom regarding Netanyahu’s commitment to reaching a resolution. Reports suggest that his security officials have privately expressed concerns that the prime minister is hindering the negotiations by reinstating demands that his negotiators had previously softened. Conversely, Netanyahu has accused his security personnel of poor negotiation tactics.
