The US insists, regardless of proof on the contrary, that Netanyahu has accepted a proposal to droop the conflict.
A ceasefire settlement in Gaza and the discharge of hostages “are already nearby,” the US envoy to the United Nations informed the UN Safety Council (UNSC) as a brand new spherical of talks started within the Egyptian capital.
Talking earlier than the council on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield referred to as on Hamas to simply accept a “transitional proposal” put ahead by the USA that seems to vary from an earlier proposal adopted by the U.N. Safety Council and accepted by the Palestinian group.
The proposal is outwardly aimed toward resolving unresolved disputes between Israel and Hamas and ending violence in Gaza, the place Israeli forces have killed at the least 40,265 Palestinians, wounded greater than 93,000 and created a humanitarian disaster since they started their offensive in October.
“Israel has accepted the proposal to determine a bridge. Now Hamas should do the identical,” he mentioned. “As members of this council, we should converse with one voice and we should use our affect to strain Hamas to simply accept the proposal to determine a bridge.”
Thomas-Greenfield’s feedback continued a development of U.S. officers claiming Israel has agreed to a deal that Hamas has not but accepted regardless of indications that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that Israel retain swathes of territory inside Gaza is the primary impediment to a deal.
We now have a path ahead to save lots of lives, present reduction to Palestinians in Gaza, recuperate the hostages and scale back regional tensions.
Israel has accepted the proposal of the USA, Qatar and Egypt to succeed in an settlement. Now, Hamas should do the identical. We’d like a…
— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) August 22, 2024
Hamas has accused Netanyahu of taking positions aimed toward sabotaging progress towards a deal to finish Israel’s practically 11-month conflict in Gaza.
In the meantime, a brand new spherical of negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the USA and Egypt, is underway in Cairo. A Qatari delegation is predicted to affix the talks on Friday, Reuters information company reported.
Netanyahu spokesman Omer Dostri mentioned an Israeli delegation, together with the heads of Israel’s Mossad spy company and Shin Wager safety service, was participating within the Cairo talks and “negotiating to maneuver ahead with a hostage deal.” [release] settlement”.
Greater than 200 folks had been taken hostage by Hamas when it attacked Israel on October 7.
In June, a ceasefire plan adopted by the UN Safety Council didn’t permit Israeli forces to take care of management of territory inside Gaza, such because the Philadelphia Hall alongside the border with Egypt and the Netzarim Hall, which divides Gaza.
Nonetheless, US President Joe Biden’s administration has mentioned the “transitional proposal” is in step with the UN-backed deal. Hamas has accused the US of fixing the contours of the earlier settlement after Netanyahu refused to budge on plenty of points.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned this week that Netanyahu had accepted a U.S.-backed proposal that’s “clear” on the standing of Israeli power withdrawals, however Netanyahu additionally mentioned this week that the 2 corridors will stay beneath Israeli management.
A report within the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday cited unnamed Israeli officers who referred to as U.S. claims that Hamas is the primary impediment to a deal a “present” to Netanyahu and a possible “lethal blow” to negotiations.
The Biden administration has claimed for months {that a} ceasefire deal is shut regardless of remaining disagreements between Hamas and the Netanyahu authorities, which has mentioned it can proceed the conflict till Hamas is destroyed even when a brief ceasefire is reached.
The US has to this point refused to contemplate pressuring Israel to undertake better flexibility by way of mechanisms reminiscent of suspending arms gross sales.