GAZA: Israeli and American negotiators were likely in Cairo over the weekend for a renewed push to reach a ceasefire-hostage agreement in a war that has raged for about six months. Ahead of the dialogue, US President Joe Biden wrote to the leaders of Qatar and Egypt asking them to press Hamas to “agree to a deal,” AFP reported.
Washington, Doha and Cairo have engaged for months in behind-the-scenes dialogue to broker a truce and an exchange of captives for Palestinian prisoners, but have made no progress since a week-long ceasefire in November.
The White House also confirmed that talks would take place this weekend in Cairo, Egypt but would not comment on US press reports that Director of CIA Bill Burns would be taking part, along with Israel intelligence chief David Barnea, Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Egypt’s spy chief Abbas Kamel.
Negotiators Likely in Cairo as Gaza War Nears Six-month Mark
Hamas and Israel, which negotiate via intermediaries, have blamed for the lack of progress, AFP reported. Hamas and Qatari mediator Al-Thani have earlier alleged Israel of stymying the ceasefire with objections over the return of displaced civilians and the ratio of prisoners to captives.
A staunch backer and supporter of Israel, Biden’s patience with the immense toll inflicted by the war on Gaza seems to be declining, especially after the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza. With both global and domestic outrage mounting, President Biden has warned of a reconsideration of Washington’s support if more is not done to protect civilian population.
Similarly, over dozens of US legislators on Friday inked a letter to Biden asking him to reassess the “recent decision to authorize the transfer of a new weapons package to Israel, and to withhold this and any future offensive weapons transfers until a complete probe into the air attack is completed”.
