On Thursday, President Biden, alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, announced their readiness to disclose a “final” cease-fire proposal aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. They urged both Israel and Hamas to return to the negotiating table next week to resolve the ongoing hostilities.
The joint statement from Biden, el-Sisi, and al-Thani emphasized that the moment has arrived to finalize an agreement on the cease-fire and address the release of hostages taken to Gaza and Palestinian detainees held by Israel. They called for negotiations to be held in Cairo or Doha on the upcoming Thursday.
US President Biden joins el-Sisi and al-Thani in urging swift action on a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas
The statement urged immediate action: “There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin 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.”
Negotiations have stalled following a fruitless meeting in Cairo last weekend. Complicating matters further was the recent assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader overseeing the negotiations. Biden expressed discontent over Israel’s timing of the operation that killed Haniyeh, which coincided with what he hoped would be a breakthrough in cease-fire talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated willingness to attend the meeting as suggested, with negotiations scheduled for August 15. However, there is uncertainty about Netanyahu’s commitment to reaching an agreement, as internal disagreements and conflicting demands persist.
