US Officials Doubt Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza Before Biden’s Term Ends

According to The Wall Street Journal, US officials do not expect a ceasefire agreement in Gaza between Israel and Hamas before President Joe Biden’s term ends next January.

The report, citing unnamed senior officials at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon, highlights the challenges in reaching a ceasefire agreement despite months of efforts by the US and mediators from Qatar and Egypt.

Recent Developments in the Conflict

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh stated that the deal is not falling apart, despite the lack of progress in reaching a ceasefire agreement.

Gaza’s Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath correspondents reported that Israeli helicopters fired heavily at the “Netzarim” axis in the middle of the Strip, while Israeli artillery continued to shell the northern area of Rafah city.

Obstacles to a Ceasefire Agreement

Two major obstacles are hindering the progress of a ceasefire agreement: Israel’s request to maintain forces in the Philadelphia (Salah al-Din) axis between Gaza and Egypt, and the details of the exchange of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken previously stated that 90% of the ceasefire agreement had been reached, but these efforts have failed to bring Israel and Hamas to a final agreement.

Consequences of the Conflict

The latest bloodshed in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on October 7 when the Hamas movement attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and detaining nearly 250, according to Israeli figures.

Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, displaced nearly the entire Strip’s 2.3 million population, triggered a hunger crisis, and led to charges of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice.