Efforts for a New Gaza Ceasefire Deal
Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been actively involved in brokering a new Gaza ceasefire deal. This comes after 80 Israeli hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinians in November following a previous ceasefire agreement.
President Biden’s Involvement
United States President Joe Biden recently spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss ongoing negotiations regarding the release of hostages held by Hamas. The two leaders reviewed talks aimed at securing the hostages’ release and implementing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Biden and Netanyahu also discussed plans to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including the opening of new northern crossings starting this week. The President emphasized the importance of sustaining and enhancing this progress in coordination with humanitarian organizations.
Hamas Response to Ceasefire Proposal
A senior Hamas official announced that the Palestinian militant group would respond to Israel’s latest ceasefire counterproposal during a meeting in Egypt. The delegation, led by Khalil al-Hayya, will deliver Hamas’s response to Egyptian intelligence officials.
Call to Prevent Israeli Attack on Rafah
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the United States to intervene and prevent an Israeli invasion of the border city of Rafah in Gaza. Abbas emphasized that the U.S. is the only country capable of stopping Israel from carrying out the attack, which he warned could lead to a significant humanitarian crisis in the region.
Abbas expressed concerns that the potential offensive could force people to evacuate the area, leading to what he described as the “biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian people’s history.”
