Biden Says 'We're Closer Than Ever' To Hostage Deal; Blinken To Visit Israel To Push For Gaza Truce
US Secretary Antony Blinken is set to travel to Israel this weekend in a bid to push the Gaza ceasefire deal forward as part of America's attempt to bridge the gaps in the peace talks in the region.
As Washington joined its European allies pressing for a swift ceasefire in Gaza amid heightened tensions of a wider Middle East war, US President Joe Biden said: "We are closer than we have ever been" to securing the hostage deal. This comes amid mounting international pressure for the ceasefire deal between Israel and Gaza, which is even more crucial now given the prevailing situation after July 31 killing of Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and threats of retaliation.
Meanwhile, US Secretary Antony Blinken is set to travel to Israel this weekend to push the Gaza ceasefire deal forward as part of America's attempt to bridge the gaps in the talks in the region, news agency AFP reported.
Blinken will leave on Saturday, seeking to "conclude the agreement for a ceasefire and release of hostages and detainees through the bridging proposal" that was presented on Friday during talks in Doha, mediated by the US.
Egypt, Qatar, and US have been working to finalise the ceasefire deal's details that were initially outlined in May by Biden, which he said were proposed by Israel.
But even after so many months of talks, the mediators have been unable to work out and pin down the details of a truce and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.
However, mediators stated that the two days of Doha talks were "serious and constructive," AFP reported.
Hamas Introduces 'New Conditions' In Truce Deal
US had presented a "bridging proposal" in order to secure a rapid deal at the new round of talks to be held in Cairo next week.
However, Hamas put across "new conditions" for Israel in the latest plan as it announced its opposition.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has called on mediators to pressurise Hamas to "accept the May 27 principles".
As per AFP's report, Hamas objected to keeping Israeli troops inside Gaza along the Egypt's border in the territory, deporting some prisoners instead of sending them back to Gaza, and veto rights for Israel on Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages.
"During the call, they reviewed ... the latest developments in the joint mediation efforts to end the war on the Strip, and stressed the need for calm and de-escalation in the region," a Qatari statement said.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic pressure on Israel to agree to the truce deal has increased in recent weeks.
Hamas officials, protestors, and a few analysts in Israel have also accused Netanyahu of prolomging the war, which has been going on since October 7, 2023.
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