US President Joe Biden said that he hopes there’ll be a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict by next Monday as the death toll in Gaza approaches 30,000, according to health officials.
“Well I hope by the beginning of the weekend, I mean, the end of the weekend,” Biden said after being asked when a ceasefire might start during an appearance on Monday at an ice cream shop in New York City.
“My national security adviser tells me that we’re close. We’re close, it’s not done yet. And my hope is that by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire,” Biden added.
Earlier on Monday, it was reported Hamas has backed off some key demands in the negotiation for a hostage deal and pause in the fighting in Gaza following Israeli accusations that its position was “delusional,” bringing the negotiating parties closer to an initial agreement that could halt the fighting and see a group of Israeli hostages released, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.
“The major obstacles have been resolved in terms of Hamas insisting on a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and end to the war,” a senior Biden administration official said, following the Friday meeting in Paris between the US, Egyptian, Israeli intelligence chiefs and the Qatari prime minister.
“Hamas’ requirements for the numbers of Palestinians prisoners that would have to be freed has declined,” the official added.
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A diplomatic source familiar with the discussions confirmed that Hamas softened its position ahead of an agreement on the first phase of a deal. Though it is expected that more challenging hurdles will emerge later when complex issues like Hamas releasing male IDF hostages and an end to the war will be discussed.
Israel was surprised that Biden expressed optimism for a deal on a ceasefire by Monday, an Israeli official said on Tuesday, but confirmed that Israel hoped a deal would initially involve the release of about 40 hostages, including female Israeli soldiers.
Those involved in the discussions have said an agreement would likely be implemented in multiple phases and once an initial deal is made it could lead to a truce lasting for a long as six weeks with a group of Israeli hostages released including women, children, the elderly and sick in exchange for a smaller number of Palestinian prisoners than Hamas had initially demanded.
The second phase is where discussions are expected to get even more complicated.
During a truce negotiations would take place over more sensitive topics like the release of Israeli soldiers who are hostages, Palestinian prisoners serving longer sentences, the withdrawal of IDF forces and bringing a permanent end to the war alongside the so-called “day after” issues.
The Israeli official said the country was ready to make a deal under the right terms. “Israel will be ready to release Palestinian prisoners even today if conditions are met,” the official said.
He said news reports that Israel hoped about 40 hostages would be freed in the initial stages of a deal were broadly correct. “The numbers of hostages are more or less what we see. We are insisting on getting women soldiers,” the official said.
