Leaders of the US, Egypt and Qatar on Thursday jointly demanded Israel and Hamas return to stalled talks on the war in Gaza next week, saying that “only the details” of carrying out a ceasefire and hostage release remain to be negotiated.
“There is no further time to waste, nor excuses from any party for further delay,” they said in a joint statement.
“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,” they said.
Qatar has been engaged in months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, with support from Egypt and the US, in efforts to reach a truce in Gaza and a hostage release deal.
A prospective cessation of hostilities has centered around a phased deal beginning with an initial truce.
Recent discussions have focused on a framework outlined by US President Joe Biden in late May which he said had been proposed by Israel.
The latest framework agreement “is based on the principles” previously outlined by Biden, the statement said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Thursday said: “Pursuant to the proposal by the US and the mediators, Israel will — on 15 August — send the negotiations team to a place to be determined in order to finalize the details of the implementation of the framework agreement.”
Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim Al Thani, mediators in indirect negotiations to end 10 months of devastating war in Gaza, set the talks for Thursday next week, to take place in either Doha, Qatar or Cairo.
A senior US official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss the push by mediators, said that only four or five areas of disagreement over implementation remained to be resolved between the two opponents.
The official cited the timing of a planned swap of Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and hostages held by Hamas, as an example.
Egypt, the US and Qatar said they have a proposal ready to present at next week’s talks to resolve the remaining issues.
Critics of Netanyahu accuse him of slow-rolling talks to end the war in Gaza, which began on Oct. 7 last year when Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel. Israel’s offensive in Gaza since then has killed nearly 40,000 people.
There was no immediate response to the offer by Hamas. Last week’s killing of its top political leader in Tehran raised tensions across the region, an escalation widely seen as a blow to ceasefire talks. The killing was widely ascribed to Israel, although Israel has not commented.
US officials have said they believe Hamas can resume negotiations, despite the July 31 assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, who had been presiding over the talks for Hamas.
Hamas military chief Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to be sheltering from Israeli attack in underground bunkers beneath Gaza, took over as the group’s political leader.
Hamas had other representatives besides Haniyeh attending the talks who can step in for the slain official, US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said.
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