Smoke billows from an area targeted by Israeli bombardment in the Gaza City district of Shujaiya on June 28, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. (Credit: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP)
The United States has proposed new language for parts of the proposed hostage and cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, Axios reported Saturday, citing “three sources with direct knowledge.”
According to the American news website, this latest U.S. effort, which has not previously been reported, is based on the Israeli proposal approved by Israel's war cabinet and presented by U.S. President Joe Biden in a speech last month.
Reports of this renewed push for a deal come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week retreated from the the war cabinet’s proposal, telling Israel's Channel 14 that he is interested in a "partial deal" with Hamas that would free "some of” the Israeli hostages being held in Gaza and that would also enable Israel to continue fighting in the enclave. Netanyahu then a day later, under U.S. pressure, expressed his recommitment to the proposal.
The three sources Axios spoke to reportedly said that the latest push for a deal, which it is making alongside mediators from Qatari and Egypt, focuses on Article 8 of the proposal, which relates to the negotiations that should take place between Hamas and Israel during the first phase of the deal and set the conditions for stage two.
According to Axios, its sources said, “Hamas wants these negotiations to focus only on the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners who will be released from Israeli jails in return for every living Israeli soldier or male hostage held in Gaza” while Israel “wants to have the ability to raise the demilitarization of Gaza and other issues during these negotiations.”
The Americans' suggested new language for Article 8 is reportedly designed to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas, while the U.S. pushes Qatar and Egypt to press Hamas to accept the new proposal.
Axios quotes "a source with director [sic] knowledge of the talks" as saying, "The U.S. is working very hard to find a formula that will allow reaching a deal," adding that another source said Hamas' agreement with the proposed new language would "allow to close the deal."
