Biden, Egypt, and Qatar Advocate for Cease-Fire in Gaza Conflict

Biden, Egypt, and Qatar Push for Cease-Fire in Gaza Conflict

On Thursday, President Joe Biden, alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, announced their readiness to propose a definitive cease-fire plan aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza. In a collaborative statement, they urged both Israel and Hamas to reconvene for negotiations in the upcoming week to resolve the pressing conflict.

The trio emphasized that “the time has come” to finalize an agreement that would not only establish a cease-fire but also facilitate the release of hostages taken to Gaza, as well as Palestinian detainees currently held by Israel. They called for negotiators to gather in either Cairo or Doha, Qatar, next Thursday, stressing the urgency of the situation.

“There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay,” the leaders proclaimed. “It is time to release the hostages, initiate the cease-fire, and implement this agreement. As mediators, if necessary, we are prepared to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties involved.”

Cease-fire discussions have been stalled since a meeting in Cairo last weekend failed to yield any significant progress. The situation has been further complicated by the recent assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, who was instrumental in guiding the negotiations through intermediaries. President Biden has expressed his dissatisfaction with Israel’s decision to proceed with the operation that resulted in Haniyeh’s death in Iran, particularly at a time when he believed the cease-fire talks were on the verge of success.

In response to the joint statement made by Biden and the other leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that he would agree to participate in the proposed meeting. His office released a statement saying, “In the wake of the offer by the United States and the mediators, Israel will send the negotiating delegation on August 15 to whichever location is decided upon, to finalize the details for the implementation of the framework deal.”

However, it remains uncertain how committed Netanyahu is to reaching a resolution. Reports indicate that his security officials have privately expressed frustration, claiming that the prime minister is hindering negotiations by reintroducing demands that had been previously softened by his team. In turn, Netanyahu has accused his security officials of being ineffective negotiators, creating a complex dynamic in the ongoing discussions.