WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden on Friday said that a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza war is closer than ever, after Washington’s strives to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas during negotiations in Doha. “We are closer than we have ever been,” Biden said.
International mediators are working to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas to end the war and secure the release of captives. Despite recent talks, Hamas has rejected Israel’s new conditions, which involve keeping the presence of military in Gaza and controlling the return of displaced Palestinians.
Israel has further demanded veto rights over exchanged prisoners and the option to deport some of them.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said the agreement is important. The United States, Egypt, and Qatar, who are facilitating the peace talks, plan to reconvene in Cairo next week to address the remaining matters.
Hamas accuses Israel of including new demands beyond a previously agreed proposal, while Israel says that Hamas’ amendments have affected the deal.
According to Gaza health officials Israel’s relentless bombardment on Gaza has killed about 40,005 Palestinians, mostly women and children and injured 92,401 others.
The war in Gaza has displaced almost the whole population of the besieged enclaved and destroyed much of its infrastructure leaving widespread food shortages.
