U.S. President Joe Biden has announced that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza may be within reach, while cautioning parties in the Middle East not to undermine ongoing negotiations aimed at securing the release of captives held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Biden noted that a deal is “much, much closer” than when talks first began, though he emphasized that challenges remain. “There are a couple more issues. I think we’ve got a shot,” he said.
Previous efforts by the Biden administration to broker a ceasefire in Gaza have faced setbacks, leading to increased criticism of the president for not exerting more pressure on Israel, a key U.S. ally.
In a separate statement, Biden revealed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the Middle East starting Saturday to continue diplomatic efforts. The president also confirmed discussions with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, both of whom expressed strong support for U.S. efforts.
Ceasefire negotiations, currently being mediated by Qatari, Egyptian, and U.S. officials in Doha, were paused on Friday but are expected to resume next week with the aim of finalizing an agreement in Cairo. In a joint statement, Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. expressed optimism that the negotiations could lead to a resolution that would save lives, provide relief to the people of Gaza, and de-escalate regional tensions.
A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the latest diplomatic efforts as the most productive in months, noting a “new spirit” among participants to bring the talks to a successful conclusion. “We made a lot of progress on several issues we’ve been working on,” the official stated.
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara echoed this sentiment, reporting a “sense of optimism” in the negotiations, particularly in bridging gaps concerning the exchange of Hamas captives for Palestinian detainees in Israel. Challenges remain, including decisions over control of the Gaza-Egypt border post-conflict and ensuring free movement for Palestinians within Gaza.
On Thursday, an Israeli delegation and mediators began a new round of talks to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of at least 40,000 Palestinians. Although Hamas is not directly involved in the talks, the group has been kept informed of the progress.
The Israeli delegation includes Mossad Director David Barnea, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, and the military’s chief hostage negotiator Nitzan Alon. The U.S. is represented by CIA Director Bill Burns and Middle East envoy Brett McGurk, alongside Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
The Biden administration hopes that a ceasefire agreement will help mitigate the risk of a broader regional conflict, especially in light of Iran’s threats to retaliate against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
