Israeli silence on US truce offer for Gaza raises concerns

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has announced that Israel has not responded to mediators regarding the truce proposal for the Gaza Strip put forward by US negotiators in Qatar last week.

Hamas representatives contacted the Turkish Foreign Ministry last week, claiming that while the US negotiators present an optimistic view of the talks, Israel has not yet responded to the mediators, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Hamas believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to buy time to continue the military operation in Gaza.

The US and its allies said on August 16 that they have presented a “bridging” proposal to Hamas and Israel for a cease-fire and hostage deal, potentially bringing within reach by the end of next week an agreement that officials hope can put an end to 10 months of fighting in the shattered Gaza Strip.

The US, Qatar and Egypt, in a joint statement after two days of talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, expressed hope that months of fitful negotiations would finally yield an agreement to end a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and plunged the Middle East into a renewed cycle of violence and instability.

The joint statement from the mediating nations said their proposal “bridges remaining gaps” between Israel and Hamas and would allow “a swift implementation of the deal.”