US proposes revised language to advance Israel-Hamas hostage-ceasefire deal

The Biden administration recently proposed revised language aimed at facilitating a hostage and ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Efforts to broker a deal, which would secure the release of hostages held by Hamas and end nearly nine months of conflict in Gaza, hit a setback earlier this month when Hamas rejected Israel's latest proposal. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that Hamas had made significant changes in its response, deviating from its previous stances.

This new initiative, previously unreported, builds upon an Israeli proposal endorsed by Israel's war cabinet and highlighted in President Biden's recent speech. The Biden administration continues to advocate for a three-phase agreement aimed at securing the release of approximately 120 remaining hostages held by Hamas and achieving lasting peace in Gaza, where local health authorities report over 37,700 Palestinian deaths caused by Israeli actions.

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially suggested a "partial deal" with Hamas that would release "some of the hostages" while allowing continued military operations in Gaza. However, under pressure from the US, Qatar, and hostage families, Netanyahu later clarified his commitment to the original proposal.

Sources indicate that U.S. efforts, in collaboration with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, are focused on Article 8 of the proposal. This article pertains to negotiations between Israel and Hamas during the initial phase of the agreement, aimed at defining conditions for subsequent phases, particularly achieving sustainable peace in Gaza.

Hamas reportedly insists that these negotiations focus solely on the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli jails in exchange for every living Israeli soldier or male hostage held in Gaza. In contrast, Israel seeks to include discussions on Gaza's demilitarization and other issues during these talks.

The sources further reveal that US officials have drafted revised language for Article 8 to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas while pressing Qatar and Egypt to encourage Hamas to accept the updated proposal.