Gaza: Biden calls on Qatar and Egypt to pressure Hamas to accept truce proposal

Washington, Doha and Cairo have been mediating for months a truce in the Palestinian territory, which has been mercilessly bombed and completely besieged by Israel since the deadly Hamas attack on October 7.

In recent days, a delegation from the Palestinian movement has been in Cairo to negotiate a proposed Israeli truce. This delegation traveled to Doha in Qatar, where its political office is located. According to several sources, the answer could be given “as quickly as possible,” perhaps even within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden asked the leaders of Qatar and Egypt to “do everything possible” to get Hamas to release hostages as part of ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, the White House said.

Exchange between Biden and Netanyahu

Joe Biden spoke with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi about “an agreement that is currently under review,” the White House said in two nearly identical statements.

The American president called on these two Arab leaders, who are very close to the United States, to “do everything possible to achieve the release of the hostages held by Hamas, since this is the only obstacle to an immediate ceasefire.”

Earlier on Sunday, Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two allies “addressed ongoing discussions regarding the release of the hostages as well as an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,” the White House said in a statement.

The two men “also discussed increasing humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip, particularly through preparations for the opening this week of new crossings in the north” of the bombed-out Palestinian territory and besieged by the Israeli army. “The President insisted on the need for sustained and significant progress in full coordination with humanitarian organizations,” the White House said in a press release.

Blinken on tour of the Middle East

In Riyadh, US diplomacy chief Antony Blinken said Monday he was “hopeful” of a favorable response from Hamas to Israel’s “extremely generous” offer.

It includes a “40-day ceasefire” as well as “the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of these hostages,” British diplomatic chief David Cameron said, also in the Saudi capital.

Since the beginning of the war, only one week-long truce was established – at the end of November.

This truce could be a glimmer of hope in this conflict. Because despite the disapproval of many capitals and humanitarian organizations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains determined to lead an attack on the overcrowded city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, where nearly one and a half million Palestinians are in a catastrophic situation. health condition has deteriorated.