The US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about the ongoing negotiations for the conclusion of a agreement on the return of hostages held in Gaza since the Hamas massacre which opened on the latest proposal.
The Palestinian terrorist group, as the Times of Israel reports, has not “no major problems” with the latest proposal from Israel and Egypt for a truce in Gaza. “The atmosphere is positive, unless there are new Israeli obstacles. There are no major problems in the comments and requests presented by Hamas regarding the contents” of the proposal, said the Hamas official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The official added that a Hamas delegation, led by the movement’s senior leader Khalil al-Hayya, would provide the group’s response to the truce proposal during a meeting with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Monday. Egypt also invited the Israeli delegation to travel to Cairo today to “speed up the process and provide necessary clarifications,” according to an Egyptian source quoted by Qatar-owned Al-Arabi Al-Jadid.
The basis for the agreement
Cairo has drawn up a new proposed agreement between Israel and Hamas which provides for the release of twenty hostages from the Gaza Strip in exchange for a three-week ceasefire. The Wall Street Journal writes this, underlining that the objective of the proposal is also to postpone the possible offensive in Rafah. The proposal was agreed with Israel, writes the WSJ, and provides for an initial pause in the fighting which would then be extended by the mediators. It is unclear, Egyptian officials say, whether this pause will lead to an end to the war.
Phone call between Biden and Netanyahu
During the telephone conversation between Biden and Netanyahu, the two leaders “discussed Rafah” and the US president “reaffirmed his clear position”, as the White House reports in a note. Biden also reaffirmed “his firm commitment to Israel’s security following the successful defense against Iran’s unprecedented attack with missiles and drones earlier this month. He also took stock of the ongoing talks to ensure the release of the hostages and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.”
The President of the United States “referred to his statement, together with 17 other world leaders, in which he called on Hamas to release its citizens without delay to ensure a ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza. The President and the Prime Minister also discussed the increase in humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including through preparations for the opening of new northern crossings starting this week. The President underlined the need for this progress to be sustained and strengthened in full coordination with the humanitarian organizations”.
Blinken in Saudi Arabia
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Saudi Arabia, the first stop on his Middle East tour to try to obtain a ceasefire in Gaza and improve the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave. In Riyadh, Blinken is expected to meet senior leaders Saudi Arabia and hold a broader meeting with counterparts from five Arab states – Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan – to discuss governance of the Gaza Strip after the war, according to a senior State Department official. Blinken it will then go to Israel and Jordan, the US State Department announced.
