WASHINGTON: The United States (US) said Sunday that multinational talks in Paris came to an “understanding” on a potential deal for the release of hostages held by Palestinian resistance group Hamas and for a new ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, AFP reported.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN that representatives from Israel, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar convened in Paris, where they reached a preliminary understanding on the fundamental aspects of a hostage release arrangement linked with a temporary ceasefire. However, Sullivan emphasized that detailed negotiations are still ongoing to finalize the terms of the agreement.
Sullivan stated, “Representatives of Israel, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar met in Paris and came to an understanding among the four of them about what the basic contours of a hostage deal for a temporary ceasefire would look like.”
Efforts to secure a ceasefire and negotiate the release of hostages have now shifted to Doha, where talks resumed between the aforementioned countries along with representatives from Hamas, as reported by state-linked Egyptian media on Sunday.
Nearly 30,000 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Since October 7
The urgency for a resolution has intensified in recent weeks, with mounting international pressure amid the soaring death toll in Gaza. According to the Gaza health ministry, nearly 30,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israel’s military strikes in Gaza since October 7.
It is noteworthy that previous diplomatic efforts brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States resulted in a week-long truce in November, during which over 100 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners were released.
In negotiations, Hamas has reiterated its demands for a ceasefire and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed these demands as “delusional,” vowing to escalate military operations in the territory.
Of particular concern is the looming possibility of an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, where a large number of the Palestinian population resides in sprawling tent cities near the Egyptian border.
Mediators remain hopeful that a ceasefire agreement can be reached before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
