Israel and Hamas may be close to a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, says Biden
The United States and Qatar are leading negotiations at a critical moment.
Israel and Hamas appear to be making progress toward a phased ceasefire agreement, according to official sources on Monday. While negotiations in Qatar have achieved significant steps forward, no definitive agreement has been reached, and numerous challenges could still hinder the process.
U.S. President Joe Biden stated that a deal to secure the release of hostages and halt the violence in Gaza is “close” to being finalized. “We are working urgently to complete it,” Biden remarked during a recent address.
On Monday, Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, held meetings with Hamas representatives and U.S. officials to assess the state of the negotiations, which have entered a critical phase.
A devastating conflict
The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Since then, the conflict has claimed over 46,000 lives in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, with women and children making up more than half of the casualties.
Currently, an estimated 100 hostages remain in Gaza, though it is believed that a third of them may have died. Despite ongoing mediation efforts, factions of Israel’s far-right political spectrum have voiced strong opposition to a potential truce.
Internal tensions in Israel
Some Israeli soldiers have expressed resistance to continuing combat, citing ethical concerns over actions such as the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians. These statements have amplified the internal divisions within Israel during a conflict that has persisted for 15 months without resolution.
International pressure
The Biden administration introduced a ceasefire proposal in June, the framework of which remains a foundation for the current draft agreement. This marks the first time the U.S. president has expressed such optimism about ending hostilities. “We are close to achieving it,” Biden emphasized, reiterating his commitment to reaching a resolution before the end of his term.
Meanwhile, negotiations in Qatar continue under heightened tension, with the active participation of international mediators striving to overcome the remaining points of contention between the involved parties.
