US pitches Gaza cease-fire plan to Hamas via Arab nations

The Biden administration is intensifying efforts to persuade both Hamas and Israel to accept a new ceasefire proposal in the nearly eight-month-long Gaza conflict. This push includes urging Arab nations to influence Hamas to agree to the terms.

President Joe Biden suggested in a recent Time magazine interview that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be prolonging the war with Hamas for political survival. However, Biden appeared to soften this criticism in later comments, acknowledging Netanyahu’s complex challenges.

Netanyahu’s far-right coalition threatens to collapse if he agrees to the new ceasefire proposal, which Biden announced as an Israeli plan last Friday. Since then, Biden and top aides have been in constant communication with both parties and regional stakeholders to push the deal forward. This plan aims to secure the release of remaining Israeli hostages and facilitate a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, are actively involved in the diplomatic push. They have engaged with foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Morocco, and Algeria, as well as key Israeli officials.

Biden also spoke with the emir of Qatar, whose country, along with Egypt, is crucial in negotiating a truce. Following this, the Group of Seven (G7) leaders issued a joint statement urging Hamas to accept the deal. Sullivan further discussed the urgency of Hamas accepting the proposal with his Turkish counterpart.

Despite these efforts, U.S. officials say Hamas has yet to respond to the proposal. They emphasize that Israel agreed to send the proposal to Hamas last week, despite some Israeli coalition members threatening to leave the government if Netanyahu approves the deal. Netanyahu maintains that Israel will not agree to a permanent ceasefire until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are destroyed, all hostages are freed, and Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

The Biden administration continues to work closely with Israel and other allies to combat Hamas and push for the ceasefire agreement.