The US is cautiously optimistic that there could soon be a new deal for a hostage release and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Qatar also said progress had been made.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed hope for an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in return for the release of hostages kidnapped from Israel.
“Very important, very productive work has been done. And there is real hope for the future,” Blinken told reporters. He had previously spoken to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Washington.
The radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas will “have to make its own decisions,” Blinken said. “All I can tell you is that there is good, strong agreement between the countries involved that this is a good, strong proposal.”
Hope after deliberations on Sunday
On Sunday, CIA chief William Burns and high-ranking representatives from Israel, Egypt and Qatar met in Paris about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages. Qatari Prime Minister al-Thani, who took part in the talks, said “good progress” had been made.
The various parties hope to pass on their proposal “to Hamas and get them to participate positively and constructively in the process.” This is the only way to de-escalate the situation. Before the consultations, there was a clear demand for a permanent ceasefire – this possibility exists, said Al Thani.
Possible deal could include two-month ceasefire
On the hostage issue, Qatar is an important mediator between Hamas and Israel, who do not speak to each other directly. The New York Times reported on Sunday night, citing US government circles, that US negotiators had drawn up a draft based on proposals from Israel and Hamas.
The deal could therefore stipulate that Hamas releases more than 100 hostages and that Israel stops its military action in the Gaza Strip for around two months. In a first phase, the fighting should be paused for 30 days. During this time, Hamas should release female, elderly and injured hostages.
In parallel, both sides should negotiate a second phase in which Israeli men and soldiers taken hostage would be released for a further 30 days of ceasefire. Compared to the seven-day ceasefire in November, during which hostages and Palestinians imprisoned in Israel were exchanged, the fighting would then last significantly longer.
Washington still cautious
Despite the cautious optimism, people in Washington did not want to go too far out of the window. “We can’t talk about an impending agreement yet, but based on the discussions we had over the weekend and in the last few days, we feel that it is moving in a good direction,” said the National Security Council communications director , John Kirby. But there is still a lot to do.