News Brief
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal Likely By Next Week: Here's All You Need To Know
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
US President Joe Biden has expressed optimism for achieving a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza by the upcoming Monday, as both parties seem to be nearing an agreement during the negotiations in Qatar.
The presence of both sides for so-called proximity talks – meeting mediators separately while in the same city – suggested negotiations were further along than at any time since a big push at the start of February, when Israel rejected a Hamas counter-offer for a four-and-a-half-month truce.
These talks, which also aim to facilitate the release of hostages, have shown progress with both sides engaging in proximity talks – meeting mediators separately while in the same city, indicating a significant advancement in negotiations since early February when Israel declined a Hamas proposal for a four-and-a-half-month ceasefire.
“Well I hope by the beginning of the weekend, by the end of the weekend,” Biden told reporters on Monday in response to a question on when he expected a ceasefire to start.
“My national security adviser tells me that we’re close. We’re close. We’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire,” Biden said.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, public statements from both sides maintain a wide gap on the objectives of a ceasefire, with each blaming the other for impeding progress in the talks.
Following discussions with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, praised the mediation efforts to conclude the war and criticised Israel for delaying negotiations while Gazans suffer under siege.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel's readiness for an agreement, attributing the delay to Hamas's demands he described as "outlandish" and "from another planet".
“Obviously, we want this deal if we can have it. It depends on Hamas. It’s really now their decision,” Netanyahu told Fox News.
"They have to come down to reality," he added.
Earlier, an Israeli working delegation, made up of staff from the military and the Mossad spy agency, had flown to Qatar, tasked with creating an operational centre to support negotiations there.
Its mission would include vetting proposed Palestinian militants that Hamas wants freed as part of a hostage release deal, Reuters reported citing a source.
Publicly, Israel insists on continuing the war until Hamas is eradicated, while Hamas demands an end to the war for the release of hostages.
“We’re totally committed to wipe Hamas off the face of the Earth,” Israel’s economy and industry minister, Nir Barkat was quoted as saying by Reuters.
A potential ceasefire agreement, as outlined by senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri, would necessitate an end to aggression, withdrawal of Israeli forces, aid for the displaced, and reconstruction efforts.
Amidst pressure from the United States for a truce, to prevent a potential assault on Rafah that could result in significant casualties, Netanyahu confirmed plans for an assault, emphasising Israel's autonomy in decision-making while also planning for civilian evacuation.
Asked if Israel would attack even if Washington asked it not to, Netanyahu said: “Well, we’ll go in. We make our own decisions, obviously, but we’ll go in based on the idea of having also the evacuation of the civilians".
The discussions on a hostage release deal in Paris, involving Israeli, U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari delegations, have contributed to the momentum towards negotiations, with proximity talks scheduled in Qatar and Cairo.
The conflict, marked by significant casualties on both sides and a comprehensive Israeli ground assault on Gaza, has also seen political shifts within the Palestinian Authority, with Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh resigning to allow for the formation of a consensus among Palestinians post-war.
This move aligns with US calls for reforms within the Palestinian Authority as part of a broader solution for governance in Palestinian territories, including Gaza, after the conflict.
