White House: Ceasefire, hostage deal between Israel, Hamas nearing completion

The White House has announced that it is closer than ever to finalizing a cease-fire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

“We are as close as we’ve ever been,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

“A solid proposal is on the table for both sides to accept, which will enable us to finalize this agreement.” Kirby noted that while the gaps in negotiations have narrowed, the remaining issues are related to “implementation details that still need to be resolved,” but did not provide a specific timeline.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken also indicated that the negotiations are in their final stages. “All parties have acknowledged the urgency of concluding this process,” Blinken said. “Finalizing this agreement and preventing any actions that might disrupt it are crucial for ending the conflict in Gaza and restoring calm to the region. It is imperative that all parties work swiftly to finalize the deal.”

Hamas still holds approximately 115 hostages that Israel seeks to have released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a temporary cease-fire in Gaza, where more than 39,000 people have died since the conflict began on October 7, according to local health officials.

The proposed deal, offered by President Biden and endorsed by the United Nations, includes an initial phase where the most vulnerable hostages and prisoners would be released along with a temporary ceasefire. Negotiations would then continue to establish a lasting cease-fire and secure the release of additional hostages.

Recent weeks have seen progress in the negotiations, with President Biden meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month in Washington to address final details. However, the talks have been complicated by recent escalations in the region. Last week, Israel assassinated a prominent Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, and Iran has accused Israeli forces of killing top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Iran, which supports both Hamas and Hezbollah, has vowed retaliation, as have its regional allies.

Kirby emphasized that the US is engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and finalize the ceasefire and hostage release deal. “We’re working extremely hard through intense diplomacy to avoid an escalation,” Kirby said. “We want to prevent an attack and are continuing our diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.” He also noted that if an attack occurs, the US is prepared to “defend Israel with a wide range of military capabilities.”