The leaders of the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have called for Israel and Hamas to restart cease-fire talks next week, with Doha or Cairo as potential locations. On Friday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that Israel would participate in these discussions.
In a joint statement, President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani urged both parties to “resume urgent discussions” on August 15. The goal is to address all remaining issues and implement the deal without further delay.
“We need to provide immediate relief to the suffering people of Gaza and the hostages and their families,” the statement read, emphasizing the need to conclude the ceasefire and the release of hostages and detainees.
The U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have been mediating the previous cease-fire talks. The joint statement came shortly after the White House suggested that Israel-Hamas cease-fire negotiations were “close” and amid concerns about a broader Middle Eastern conflict following high-profile assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
The proposed agreement is based on the principles President Biden outlined on May 31 and endorsed by U.N. Security Council Resolution 2735, according to the statement.
On July 30, Israel conducted a rare airstrike on Beirut, killing Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, a close advisor to Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The following day, Ismail Haniyeh, the longtime chairman of Hamas’ political bureau, was assassinated in Tehran. Iran has accused Israel of the attack. Haniyeh had attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, just hours before his death.
If the talks proceed as planned, CIA Director William Burns is expected to participate on behalf of the U.S.
Netanyahu’s office stated early Friday that Israel would send its negotiation team to a location yet to be determined to finalize the framework agreement details on the proposed date.
Haniyeh, who was the lead negotiator for Hamas in cease-fire talks with Israel, the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, has now been succeeded by Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar, the new leader of Hamas’ political wing, is believed to be hiding in Gaza’s underground tunnels. He is accused of masterminding Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel.
A National Security Council official mentioned that even if talks occur on August 15, an immediate agreement is unlikely. “There’s still a lot of work to be done,” the official said, though they expressed optimism that the remaining issues can be resolved.
“We’re as close as we’ve ever been,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Wednesday. “The gaps are narrow enough to be closed. We’ve made significant progress.”
However, former Israeli negotiator Gershon Baskin expressed skepticism, suggesting the White House’s comments might be detached from reality. He speculated that U.S. pressure might be behind the scenes but questioned Netanyahu’s willingness to agree to a deal, citing strained U.S.-Israel relations this year due to Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza.
With nearly 40,000 people reported killed in Gaza since October 7, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, Netanyahu has continued to advocate for military action. During a recent visit to a military base, he told recruits, “We are moving forward to victory,” emphasizing readiness for both defense and attack.
Baskin suggested that progress on a cease-fire might be unlikely unless Netanyahu changes his stance or if Sinwar is captured or killed. Sinwar, who has a long history of conflict with Israel, was released in a 2011 prisoner swap and has since risen to lead Hamas in Gaza.
With Sinwar now heading Hamas’ political wing following Haniyeh’s death, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has placed public pressure on him, stating that it is now up to Sinwar to finalize a cease-fire deal in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.