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President Joe Biden of the United States said on Monday that a deal aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages by Hamas was “nearly there” in terms of finalization. This announcement came against the backdrop of continued intense fighting in Gaza, where the violence seemed unrelenting, despite efforts to negotiate a resolution.
Starting in early January, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have significantly ramped up their diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. Their aim is to facilitate a deal that would not only end the ongoing fighting but also ensure the safe release of hostages held by Hamas.
The intensification of these efforts reflects the urgency of the situation, as international actors work tirelessly to bring a resolution to the prolonged conflict.
“In the war between Israel and Hamas, we’re on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition,” Biden said in a farewell speech at the State Department.
In an update earlier on Monday, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor to President Biden, expressed confidence that a truce deal could be concluded by the end of the week. His comments, made amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts, reflected a growing belief that a resolution was within reach, despite the complex dynamics at play.
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“I’m not making a promise or prediction, but it is there for the taking and we are going to work to make it happen,” Sullivan told reporters.
According to a source with direct knowledge of the talks in Doha, there has been considerable advancement on the issues that had been holding up the deal. The latest discussions in Qatar, the source told AFP, have made meaningful strides in resolving the remaining contentious points, further inching the parties toward a potential agreement.
This has led to a new “concrete” proposal being presented to the parties, the source said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
“Israel really wants to release the hostages and is working hard to secure a deal,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said at a press conference.
“The current round of negotiations is the most serious and deep and has made significant progress,” a Palestinian official close to Hamas told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, however, warned he would oppose any deal that stopped the war.
“The proposed agreement is a catastrophe for Israel’s national security,” Smotrich said on X. “We will not be part of a surrender deal that involves releasing dangerous terrorists, halting the war, squandering the hard-won achievements paid for in blood and abandoning many hostages still in captivity.
“Now is the time to intensify our efforts, using all available force to fully secure and cleanse the Gaza Strip,” he added.
Smotrich, an outspoken member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, has repeatedly opposed halting the war in Gaza.