21/8/2024–|Last update: 8/21/202410:59 PM (Makkah Time)
Press reports quoted sources involved in and familiar with the ceasefire talks as saying: Gaza The American adoption of the positions of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Threatens the course of negotiations, while the US President conducted Joe Biden And his deputy Kamala Harris Phone call with Netanyahu to discuss latest developments.
The Times of Israel quoted two Arab officials from a mediating country and a third official involved in the talks as saying that the recent US proposal’s tilt in favour of Netanyahu’s positions had brought the negotiations to a dead end.
According to the newspaper, the three officials see the proposal presented by the Biden administration last week as “bridge the gaps” between the Islamic Resistance Movement (agitation) Israel has greatly exaggerated in adopting Netanyahu’s positions regarding the continued presence of the Israeli army in Rafah crossing andNatsarim axis.
The newspaper quoted one of the officials as saying that there is no point in holding the meeting planned in Cairo this week unless Washington pressures Netanyahu to abandon his new demands.
“Blinken’s mistake”
One of the sources expressed his surprise at the US Secretary of State’s announcement. Anthony Blinken Netanyahu accepted the US proposal, saying the statement “inaccurately portrayed Hamas as the party obstructing the deal.”
Blinken held talks in Israel, Egypt and Qatar on Monday and Tuesday on the new deal proposal, following a round of talks in Doha on August 15-16, which is scheduled to be followed by another round in Cairo before the end of this week.
Israeli sources familiar with the negotiations file held the US Secretary of State responsible for the diminishing chances of reaching a settlement in Cairo.
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Yedioth Ahronoth quoted sources as saying that Blinken “made a very serious mistake when he announced Netanyahu’s acceptance of the American proposal and transferred the ball to Hamas’s court.”
The sources added that Blinken hinted at his country’s approval of Israel remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor, which Egypt and Hamas oppose together, according to the newspaper.
According to the same sources, “Blinken was keen to show his optimism for democratic political considerations, sided with Netanyahu, gave him a gift, and sentenced the deal to death.”
The newspaper also reported that members of the Israeli negotiating team, while following Blinken’s press conference, were very disturbed by its content.
In the same context, Israeli Channel 12 quoted senior Israeli officials as saying that Blinken “reduced the chances of reaching a deal by rushing to hold Hamas responsible for not reaching an agreement.”
Three way call
Meanwhile, the White House said Biden discussed with Netanyahu a possible ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
He added that Harris, the vice president and presidential candidate, joined Biden and Netanyahu on the phone call.
The Israeli Walla website reported earlier that Biden’s call to Netanyahu aimed to convince him to change his position on Israel’s continued presence in the region. Philadelphia Axis On the border of the Gaza Strip with Egypt.
The American website Axios also quoted a source as saying that Biden is expected to urge Netanyahu during the call to show more flexibility to reach an agreement to release the hostages and a ceasefire.
According to the source, the call is expected to address Netanyahu’s new request to keep the Israeli army along the Philadelphi corridor.
Axios quoted Israeli negotiators and US officials as saying that Netanyahu’s new demand regarding the Philadelphi corridor has become a major obstacle to reaching a possible agreement.
