The United States, Egypt and Qatar have launched a joint assertion calling on Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage-release deal.
The assertion mentioned the three nations had solid a “framework settlement” that had “solely the small print of implementation left to conclude”.
Israel mentioned it could ship negotiators to the proposed talks, that are pencilled in for 15 August in Doha or Cairo. Hamas didn’t instantly reply.
The renewed diplomatic push can be seen as an try to cease regional tensions from spiralling uncontrolled, after Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated last week. Iran, blaming Israel, has vowed a response – although Israel has not commented immediately on the killing.
In a joint assertion, the three nations invited Israel and Hamas to restart talks on 15 August “to shut all remaining gaps and start implementation of the deal with out additional delay.”
“As mediators, if essential, we’re ready to current a last bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation points in a way that meets the expectations of all events,” it mentioned.
The assertion was signed by US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
It mentioned the framework settlement was based mostly on “principles” beforehand outlined by President Biden on 31 May – which might begin with a full ceasefire and the discharge of a variety of hostages – and endorsed by the UN Security Council.
Despite quite a few rounds of talks, the problem of reaching a ceasefire and hostage launch settlement has to this point proved elusive.
Hamas is pushing for a ceasefire, however Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mentioned the battle can solely cease once Hamas is defeated.
On Thursday, Israel continued its bombardment of the Gaza strip. Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defence drive mentioned it hit two faculties, killing greater than 18 individuals. The Israeli army mentioned it had struck Hamas command centres.
Any proposed talks may very well be made much more troublesome by Hamas’ choice to elect Yahya Sinwar as its new chief, changing Haniyeh.
Sinwar, who Israel holds liable for the planning and execution of the 7 October assaults, is seen as one of many group’s most extreme figures.
Amid fears of an assault from Iran or its allies, Israel’s safety cupboard met in an underground bunker on Thursday, as a substitute of its ordinary assembly place, Israel’s Channel 13 reported.
