US President Biden Says No One Should Damage The Ceasefire Deal In Gaza

Israeli military operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden stressed that no parties should interfere with efforts to negotiate a conflict ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

President Biden said in his post on social media, following the latest round of negotiations held in Doha, Qatar, since Thursday.

"I received the latest news from my negotiating team on the ground in Doha and directed them to submit a comprehensive proposal submitted today," President Biden tweeted, as quoted August 17.

President Biden also wrote that he communicated separately with Emir Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Tsani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to follow the negotiation path

It is known, along with Egypt and Qatar, the United States last week urged Hamas and Israel to continue negotiations on the ceasefire of the Gaza conflict this week.

"I spoke separately with Amir Sheikh Tamim and President Sisi to review the significant progress made in Doha over the past two days of talks. Our team will remain on the ground to resume technical work in the coming days, and senior officials will meet again in Cairo before the end of this week," President Biden tweeted.

"I also sent Minister Blinken to Israel to reaffirm my support for Israel's security, continue our efforts to finalize this deal, and underline that with the ceasefire and the agreement to release hostages that are already in sight, no one in the region is allowed to take action to undermine this process," he continued.

Earlier today, I received an update from my negotiating team on the ground in Doha and directed them to put forward the comprehensive bridging proposal presented today.I spoke separately with Amir Sheikh Tamim and President Sisi to review the significant progress made in Doha…

— President Biden (@POTUS) August 16, 2024

Early today, I received an update from my negotiating team on the ground in Doha and directed them to put forward the comprehensive bridging proposal presented today.I speech separately with Amir Sheikh Tamim and President Sisi to review the significant progress made in Doha...

Earlier, President Biden said on Friday the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was imminent although it had not yet been realized, with the latest round negotiations suspended until next week.

"I don't want to be unlucky. We may have something. But we haven't got there yet," President Biden told reporters in the Oval Room of the White House.

"This is far, much closer than three days ago. So, keep praying," he continued.

Separately, a US official said the latest ceasefire negotiations in Doha this week were the most constructive in months.

"All participants agreed over the past 48 hours there really was a new spirit here to push it towards conclusions," the official said, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity.

However, he still warned there was still work to be done.

"It's a very difficult and complicated deal."

On Friday, the US, with the help of mediators Qatar and Egypt, submitted a proposal believed by the three countries to close all gaps between the warring parties, Israel and Hamas, the official said.

The last two days in Doha may have been "the most constructive 48 hours" experienced by both sides in months, the official said.

"The Israeli team here is authorized. We are making a lot of progress on a number of issues that we have handled," the official said.

The last few months of negotiations to end the war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, began on Thursday between Israel and the mediators. The Palestinian militant group Hamas was not directly involved in the negotiations, but continued to be briefed on its progress.

The White House sent CIA Director Bill Burns and US envoy to the Middle East Brett McGurk. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel also took part.

The plan, there will be a meeting next week between working groups that will discuss everything from the list of hostages, the order of release of Palestinian hostages and detainees.