US President Biden has called on Qatar and Egypt to do everything possible to reach a new hostage deal with the terrorist group Hamas.
The radical Islamic Hamas has yet to respond to Israel’s proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Part of the offer is a 40-day truce.
Following recent ceasefire negotiations in Cairo, U.S. President Joe Biden has urged his negotiating partners Qatar and Egypt to reach an agreement with the Islamist group Hamas.
Biden called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and urged them to “make every effort to secure the release of the hostages held by Hamas,” the White House said Monday night (local time). This is currently the only obstacle to a ceasefire and aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.
U.S. to push for compliance with possible deal
If an agreement is reached that is accepted by Israel, the U.S. will work to ensure that it is upheld, the White House said. In his talks with al-Sisi, Biden also stressed that Palestinians should not be expelled to Egypt or anywhere else outside the Gaza Strip.
Biden’s spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, earlier called on Hamas to agree to the proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. “There has been new progress in the talks in recent days, and at this point the burden is indeed on Hamas. There is an offer on the table and they have to accept it,” she said.
Egypt hopes for deal
There are factors that will affect both sides (…) but I hope that everyone will rise to the occasion and realize that there can be no more loss of life.
According to British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Monday, Hamas has made an offer for a 40-day ceasefire. In return for the release of hostages held by Hamas, “possibly thousands” of Palestinians would be released from Israeli prisons.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently traveling in the region, spoke of a “very, very generous” Israeli proposal. A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Monday to negotiate the latest proposal.