Qatar-Egypt To Warn US It Is Less Likely To Accept New Armistice Proposal

Children's Conditions in Gaza/DOK UN refugee camps

JAKARTA - Qatar and Egypt have warned the United States (US) that it is unlikely that the Palestinian group Hamas will accept the latest proposal for a Gaza ceasefire.

The discussion of the Gaza ceasefire ended last Friday with a new proposal narrowing down the difference in demands between Israel and Hamas.

The discussion also claimed that the new proposal was consistent with the principles promoted by US President Joe Biden on May 31.

However, Hamas rejected the proposal, saying it contained only in line with the conditions determined by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Citing information sources, Israeli public media KAN said in recent days that Qatar and Egypt mediators had warned Washington about the unlikely possibility of Hamas receiving the latest proposal.

As reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Wednesday, August 21, this new proposal emerged under US proposals because the mediators did not want to get involved in it, although they took part in the announcement on Friday after the talks ended, he added.

After Doha's Friday talks, Hamas said the announced "new proposal meets the requirements and is in line with Netanyahu".

"Especially Netanyahu's rejection of the permanent ceasefire, the full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the reluctance to stop the occupation at the Netzarim Intersection, the Rafah crossing, and the Philadelphi Corridor," Hamas said in a statement.

"He (Netanyahu) also set new requirements in the hostage exchange process and revoked other requirements, which hindered the settlement of the deal," added Hamas.

Based on Biden's announcement in May and UN Security Council resolution in June, Hamas reiterated its commitment to a July deal.

For months, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure exchanges of prisoners and ceasefires and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

However, mediation efforts were stopped due to Netanyahu's refusal to fulfill Hamas' demands, namely to stop the war.

Israel continues to carry out brutal attacks on the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 despite UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire.

This conflict has left more than 40,170 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and more than 92,740 injuries, according to local health authorities.

The ongoing blockade in Gaza has caused severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicines, leaving most areas in the rubble.

Israel faces allegations of genocide at the International Court, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have sought refuge before the region was attacked on May 6.