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Urgent Negotiations Intensify as New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal Takes Shape
In a high-stakes effort to broker peace, the White House is urgently crafting a new proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. This latest development follows a protracted deadlock in negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
According to multiple sources, including two U.S. officials and two Egyptian security sources, significant progress has been made, but key issues remain unresolved. The principal sticking points involve Israel’s insistence on maintaining a military presence in the Philadelphi corridor, a critical buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border, and the specifics of the proposed exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
The Biden administration has indicated that a revised draft of the accord could be unveiled as soon as this weekend. A senior U.S. official highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that the recent killing of six hostages by Hamas has intensified the pressure to reach an agreement.
CIA Director William Burns is leading the U.S. negotiating team, which also includes White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The team faces mounting urgency as there is growing concern that the ceasefire negotiations are faltering.
Recent discussions have shifted from a consultative approach to a more assertive push to finalize a ceasefire plan. The revised proposal is expected to be flexible, with Washington committed to continuing negotiations even if the new plan does not succeed.
The dispute over the Philadelphi corridor remains a central issue. On Tuesday, several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority, along with Turkey, rejected Israel’s demand to retain troops in the corridor. The current debate focuses on whether the corridor, which Israel controls, should be classified as a densely populated area, which would necessitate Israeli withdrawal under the proposed agreement.
In talks held in Qatar earlier this week, an Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea expressed a willingness to withdraw troops from the corridor after an initial 42-day ceasefire phase. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly rejected this proposal, insisting that Israel will only agree to a permanent ceasefire if it can guarantee that the corridor will not be used for smuggling weapons and supplies to Hamas.
The ongoing conflict, which erupted on October 7, has caused severe humanitarian repercussions. The Israeli offensive has resulted in significant casualties and widespread devastation in Gaza, displacing millions and creating a dire humanitarian crisis.
As the negotiations continue, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that will bring much-needed relief to the region.