The United States is still waiting for a response from Hamas regarding Israel’s ceasefire proposal, which President Joe Biden unveiled last Friday. This information was shared by White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during a press briefing on Tuesday.
“We are waiting for a response from Hamas” via Qatari mediators, Sullivan stated.
CIA Director Bill Burns is set to visit Doha to engage with Qatari mediators concerning the Gaza ceasefire proposal, Sullivan added. Qatar has been acting as a mediator between Israel and Hamas over the Gaza conflict.
On Tuesday, Qatar announced that it had conveyed the Israeli ceasefire proposal to Hamas. The proposal reflects a three-phase plan presented by President Biden and is said to be closer to meeting the positions of both parties involved.
A spokesperson for Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, reiterated on Tuesday that the group would not agree to any deal unless Israel commits to a permanent truce and a complete withdrawal from Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other hand, has insisted that permanent peace is unattainable unless Hamas is eliminated. Netanyahu is currently facing significant political divisions within Israel over the US-backed truce proposal.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 36,000 deaths, widespread hunger, and the destruction of much of the enclave, according to the local health ministry. Israel faces genocide allegations, which it firmly denies.
