The multinational effort to bring resolution to the ten-month-long war in Gaza is on the brink of collapsing, two American and two Israeli officials told Politico on Tuesday.
Sources informed the news outlet that the latest proposal, negotiated by mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, includes conditions that have addressed the demands of both Hamas and Israel. They contend that Jerusalem has signed on to the armistice, but the matter is receiving public dismissal in statements made by the Gaza-based terrorist organization.
One of the representatives was quoted as fearing that “if we don’t get the deal, there’s a chance that Iran attacks, and this escalates into a full-blown confrontation,” referencing comments by the regime in Tehran saying they would forgo any planned military operations against the Jewish state if a ceasefire was agreed to.
The lack of progress comes amid White House declarations that the talks were leading to a constructive conclusion, with President Joe Biden describing the negotiations to reporters on Friday as becoming “closer than we’ve ever been.”
The latest Hamas rejection occurred earlier this week, when the group's leader, Yahya Sinwar, insisted that the IDF withdraw entirely from the strategically important Philadelphi and Netzarim Corridors in Gaza. These areas are deemed essential for Israel’s security by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading him to insist that Israeli forces remain there.
The report noted the past difficulty of communicating with Hamas delegates, as the Islamists are often at odds with one another, and many of their chief decisionmakers are in hiding while they fight the IDF in Gaza.
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the present situation at the conference table “probably the best, maybe last, opportunity” to conclude the hostilities and ensure that any surviving hostages can return home.
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