As the Biden administration expressed optimism, the two sides said major disagreements remained unresolved. The U.S. secretary of state pushed for a deal in visits to Egypt and Qatar.The New York Times reports that the Biden administration is once again using its diplomatic influence to try and break the stalemate in negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a cease-fire to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. American officials are expressing optimism about the potential for a breakthrough.

However, Israeli and Hamas officials have a different perspective. Both sides have dismissed the idea of an imminent deal, stating that the efforts of mediators and the latest American proposal have failed to resolve key issues in the talks.

During his ninth visit to Israel since the war began, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for three hours on Monday. After the meeting, Blinken announced that Netanyahu had agreed to a new U.S. proposal aimed at bridging the gaps between the two sides, which was introduced during talks in Qatar last week.

But according to Israeli and Hamas officials familiar with the negotiations, the U.S. plan did not address major disagreements. Hamas quickly rejected the American-led framework, stating that it aligned with Netanyahu’s conditions, which have become more stringent in recent weeks.

As Blinken continued his efforts to reach an agreement by traveling to Egypt and Qatar on Tuesday, Hamas released a statement criticizing the latest American proposal as a “reversal” of what they had previously agreed to in early July, which U.S. officials had hailed as a breakthrough.

Hamas has expressed willingness to consider President Biden’s framework for a cease-fire, but has also requested changes to the proposals presented to them. They have also noted that Netanyahu has toughened Israel’s stance on several points of contention since May.

On Monday night, President Biden appeared to side with Netanyahu, stating that “Hamas is now backing away” from a cease-fire. The urgency of the negotiations has increased following the assassinations of Hamas’s political leader in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut in late July. Both Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to retaliate, raising the possibility of the conflict in Gaza escalating into a regional armed conflict.

The Biden administration hopes that even the possibility of progress towards a cease-fire may dissuade Iran and Hezbollah from carrying out their reprisals. Under the new U.S. proposal, Israeli troops would still be able to patrol a portion of the border between Gaza and Egypt, albeit with reduced numbers. This is one of Netanyahu’s key demands, according to four officials familiar with the talks. However, this is likely unacceptable to Hamas, who has consistently called for an end to Israeli presence on the border. 

Source:Read More