Biden’s Last-Minute Blow: Major Exchange Deal Falls Through Before Term’s End
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement Unlikely Before Biden’s Term Ends
According to senior White House, State Department, and Defense officials, a ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas is unlikely to be reached before President Joe Biden’s term ends next January.
The officials cited by The Wall Street Journal stated that a major sticking point is the percentage of Palestinian prisoners Israel must release in order to return Israeli prisoners.
Recent attacks on Hezbollah and Israeli airstrikes have made an all-out war more likely, complicating diplomatic efforts with Hamas.
A New Proposal from Israel
Israeli radio reported that Israel is preparing a new proposal for a deal on the Gaza Strip, which would include the return of all prisoners at once.
The proposal would also include the return of all prisoners in exchange for Yahya al-Sinwar (Hamas’ political bureau chief) and others exiting Gaza through a safe corridor.
The proposal calls for an end to the fighting and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may introduce the new proposal in a speech before the United Nations General Assembly within days.
Problems that Need to be Solved
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken revealed that the US has made progress on a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, with 15 out of 18 items in the proposed agreement agreed upon.
However, remaining issues need to be resolved, and Washington has presented ideas to the Qatari and Egyptian sides to resolve outstanding issues.
Blinken stressed that the agreement requires political will from both sides of the conflict to reach a ceasefire, return prisoners to their homes, and open important horizons for pacifying hotbeds.
Netanyahu’s insistence on continuing the Gaza war has stalled episodes of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas for over 10 months.
Despite Israeli obstruction, Egypt continues to mediate alongside Qatar and the United States to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and end prisoner exchanges between the two sides.
Families of Israeli prisoners continued their protests to demand a ceasefire agreement and an exchange deal, with hundreds of Israeli prisoners’ families protesting in front of the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv.