AgenPress. THEUS President Joe Biden has personally asked mediators Qatar and Egypt to pressure the Palestinian militant organization Hamas to accept a deal for the release of the Israeli hostages.
On the table is a proposal calling for a six-week ceasefire and the release of 40 hostages,
The United States wants to help indirect negotiations reach a breakthrough this weekend in Cairo. To this end, CIA Director William Burns will meet in the Egyptian capital with the head of the Israeli Mossad secret service, David Barnea, as well as Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence minister Abbas Kamel.
For weeks, the USA, Qatar and Egypt have been mediating between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire and an exchange of the hostages kidnapped in Israel on 7 October 2023 with Palestinian prisoners. According to Israeli estimates, nearly 100 people abducted by Hamas are still alive.
Among the hostages to be released under the agreement are Israeli soldiers, women and men over the age of 50 in serious health conditions. In exchange, Israel will release around 700 imprisoned Palestinians including around 100 serving life sentences for killing Israelis.
