Given the fears of a major war in the Middle East, mediators are pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza, which is seen as key to defusing the situation.
The mediators in the difficult negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza war have used forceful words to urge Israel and the Islamist Hamas to reach an agreement. Both sides have been called upon to resume talks on August 15 in Doha or Cairo “to close all remaining gaps and begin implementing the agreement without further delay,” according to a joint statement signed by Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President Joe Biden.
It comes at a critical time when Iran and its allies such as Hamas have threatened retaliatory strikes against Israel for the killing of two senior figures in Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. There are concerns that the Gaza war is turning into a conflagration. It is time to “provide immediate relief” to both the suffering population in Gaza and the hostages and their families, the statement said.
The mediation teams have worked tirelessly for many months “to forge a framework agreement that is now on the table and for which only the details of implementation remain to be clarified,” the statement continued. “There is no time to lose and no excuses for further delays.”
It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire and implement this agreement. If necessary, we are ready to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a way “that meets the expectations of all parties,” the statement said.
According to the Times of Israel, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the statement by saying that Israel would send a delegation on August 15 “to agree on the details of the implementation of the framework agreement.” The hostages’ relatives’ forum thanked the mediators and, according to the newspaper, appealed to Netanyahu and his government to “show leadership” and reach an agreement “for the return of all hostages.” According to Israel’s count, Hamas still has 115 hostages in its power, but many of them are likely dead.
Source: Stern
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