The United States, Qatar and Egypt have issued a joint statement saying that ceasefire talks held in Doha were serious, constructive, and held in positive atmosphere.
“Over the past 48 hours in Doha, senior officials from our governments have engaged in intensive talks as mediators with the aim of concluding an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees,” the statement noted.
It disclosed that the United States, with the support of the State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt, presented to both parties a proposal that narrows the gaps between the parties and is consistent with the principles set out by President Biden on May 31, 2024, and Security Council Resolution 2735.
The current round of talks started on Thursday, August 15, 2024, amid growing fears of a regional war after Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut and Hamas’s political chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran.
According to a joint statement by Egypt, Qatar and US, the mediators have put forward a “bridging proposal” that would allow the “swift” implementation of a deal that would end the war in Gaza and see the release of Israeli captives.
The statement, issued on Friday, August 16, 2024, echoed previous remarks by the mediators rejecting any delays in implementing an agreement to reach a ceasefire and release the captives.
The announcement did not provide details about the latest proposal, but it said it builds on a deal presented by US President Joe Biden in May.
The US-backed plan would see a multiphased effort to end the war, starting with a six-week pause in fighting that would enable the release of some Israeli captives held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
In the second phase, there would be a permanent end to the fighting and the release of all remaining Israeli captives.
The final part of the agreement would include the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by the Israeli war.
“This proposal builds on the points of agreement achieved over the past week, and closes the remaining gaps in a manner that allows for the rapid implementation of the agreement,” the statement revealed.
The language in the ceasefire statementsuggests that the mediators are far more optimistic than they have been leading into these talks.
Hamas has said that it would only agree to a deal that would lead to a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a “serious” prisoner exchange.
Work To Continue On Details Of Implementation
Also in the statement issued by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, technical teams will continue to work over the coming days on the details of implementation, “including arrangements for implementing the comprehensive humanitarian components of the agreement, as well as the components related to hostages and detainees.”
“Senior officials from our governments will meet again in Cairo before the end of next week, hoping to reach an agreement on the terms set out today,” it added.
“As the leaders of the three countries said last week, ‘There is no more time to waste and no excuses for further delay that can be accepted by any party. It is time to release the hostages and detainees, to begin the ceasefire, and to implement this agreement’.”
United States, Qatar and Egypt
“The path is now clear to achieve this outcome, to save lives, to bring relief to the people of Gaza, and to calm regional tensions,” the statement asserted.
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