By Luis De Jesus
Aug 16, 2024, 8:42 PM EDT
A senior US official has spoken of the possibility of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas, with the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners expected during talks scheduled for next week in Cairo.
The source said that, despite the complexity of the process, the mediators involved—the United States, Qatar and Egypt—maintain hope that a definitive agreement will be reached in the next round of talks in the Egyptian capital, Efe reports.
This optimism comes after weeks of dialogue and a recent proposal put forward by the United States with the support of Qatar and Egypt.
During the negotiations in Doha, which were described as “constructive” in a joint statement, the United States presented a proposal designed to reduce differences between the parties and allow for rapid implementation of the agreement.
However, they did not provide specific details on the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7, nor on the number of Palestinian prisoners who might be freed.
Crucial aspects such as the date of entry into force of the ceasefire and the mechanisms to guarantee the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip have not been defined either, Efe reported.
Following the conclusion of negotiations in Doha, US President Joe Biden held separate telephone talks with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi.
According to the US official, there is a consensus among the leaders that the negotiations are in their “final phase.”
To move forward on the deal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel on Saturday to continue diplomatic efforts.
The State Department also noted that Blinken plans to visit other countries in the region, although details about his future itinerary have not yet been revealed.
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