Gaza ceasefire, hostage release deal in closing stages, says US official
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Families of hostages held by Hamas and their supporters watch the live broadcast of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before US lawmakers.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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WASHINGTON – Negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal are in their “closing stages”, a US official said on July 24, ahead of talks between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Biden will try to close some “final gaps” in his talks with Mr Netanyahu at the White House on July 25, but key elements, including the fate of the hostages, remain in Hamas’ court, the senior administration official said.
“We believe it’s in the closing stages, and a deal is closeable,” the official said, on condition of anonymity, in a call previewing Mr Netanyahu’s visit.
There would be a “lot of activity in the coming week” towards reaching a long-sought deal, he said, adding that an agreement was “not only possible, it’s essential and necessary”.
He played down a fiery speech to the US Congress by Mr Netanyahu
A possible truce now hinges on a handful of issues about how a deal would come into effect, with Hamas having eased its demand for a full Israeli pullout, the official said.
“I don’t expect the meeting (with Mr Netanyahu) to be a yes or no. It’s kind of like, ‘How do we close these final gaps?’, and there are some things we need from the Israeli side, no question,” the official said.
“But there are also some key things that are only in the hands of Hamas, because the hostages are in the hands of Hamas.”
A Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7
Out of 251 people taken hostage that day, 114 are still being held inside the Gaza Strip, including 42 who the military says are dead.
More than 39,100 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the war broke out. AFP
