WSJ: Gaza ceasefire unlikely before US election
US officials have reportedly expressed skepticism about the possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, despite publicly asserting that an agreement is attainable. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
An American official has conveyed to the newspaper that Israel and Hamas may never reach an agreement. According to reports from American officials to the Wall Street Journal, US President Joe Biden is unlikely to bring an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict before his term concludes. Biden has repeatedly suggested that a deal is close, despite ongoing challenges.
The United States, aided by mediators from Qatar and Egypt, has been working for months to facilitate an agreement wherein Hamas would release its remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and ceasing its military operations in Gaza.
Both Hamas and Israel have accused each other of obstructing various ceasefire proposals. The Palestinian militants demand a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from hardline coalition members to maintain operations until Hamas’s command structure is dismantled.
“No deal is imminent,” an anonymous US official told the WSJ on Wednesday, expressing skepticism: “I’m not sure it ever gets done.”
The situation has become more complicated due to Hamas reportedly executing six hostages last month, and Israel’s alleged attacks on Hezbollah members in Lebanon this week, which have endangered efforts for a deal, according to sources cited by the newspaper.
“There’s no chance now of it happening,” stated an official from an Arab nation. “Everyone is in a wait-and-see mode until after the election. The outcome will determine what can happen in the next administration.”
Under pressure from pro-Palestinian progressives in his party, Biden has claimed for months that he would work towards a ceasefire, stating in August, “We are closer than we’ve ever been” to an agreement, and noted that his administration was involved in “intensive efforts to conclude this agreement.”
Other officials from Biden’s administration have echoed this optimism, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserting two weeks ago that Israel and Hamas had settled “more than 90 percent” of a draft deal. Despite recent Israeli escalations against Hezbollah, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh affirmed on Thursday that “we do not believe that a deal is falling apart.”
On Thursday, a senior Israeli official asserted that West Jerusalem is prepared to end its Gaza operations and provide safe passage for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages and the disarmament of the militants. However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant later stated that neither he nor Israel’s negotiation team had been informed of this proposal, while analysts noted that Hamas leadership is unlikely to accept disarmament and exile.
Hamas initiated a surprise attack on Israel last October, resulting in approximately 1,100 deaths and the abduction of around 250 hostages taken to Gaza. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas and established a near-total blockade on the territory. Following nearly a year of military operations, over 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly died, according to the latest figures from Gaza’s health ministry.
As part of a ceasefire deal last November, Hamas released 105 hostages, but the status of the remaining captives remains uncertain.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
The United States, aided by mediators from Qatar and Egypt, has been working for months to facilitate an agreement wherein Hamas would release its remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and ceasing its military operations in Gaza.
Both Hamas and Israel have accused each other of obstructing various ceasefire proposals. The Palestinian militants demand a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from hardline coalition members to maintain operations until Hamas’s command structure is dismantled.
“No deal is imminent,” an anonymous US official told the WSJ on Wednesday, expressing skepticism: “I’m not sure it ever gets done.”
The situation has become more complicated due to Hamas reportedly executing six hostages last month, and Israel’s alleged attacks on Hezbollah members in Lebanon this week, which have endangered efforts for a deal, according to sources cited by the newspaper.
“There’s no chance now of it happening,” stated an official from an Arab nation. “Everyone is in a wait-and-see mode until after the election. The outcome will determine what can happen in the next administration.”
Under pressure from pro-Palestinian progressives in his party, Biden has claimed for months that he would work towards a ceasefire, stating in August, “We are closer than we’ve ever been” to an agreement, and noted that his administration was involved in “intensive efforts to conclude this agreement.”
Other officials from Biden’s administration have echoed this optimism, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserting two weeks ago that Israel and Hamas had settled “more than 90 percent” of a draft deal. Despite recent Israeli escalations against Hezbollah, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh affirmed on Thursday that “we do not believe that a deal is falling apart.”
On Thursday, a senior Israeli official asserted that West Jerusalem is prepared to end its Gaza operations and provide safe passage for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages and the disarmament of the militants. However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant later stated that neither he nor Israel’s negotiation team had been informed of this proposal, while analysts noted that Hamas leadership is unlikely to accept disarmament and exile.
Hamas initiated a surprise attack on Israel last October, resulting in approximately 1,100 deaths and the abduction of around 250 hostages taken to Gaza. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas and established a near-total blockade on the territory. Following nearly a year of military operations, over 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly died, according to the latest figures from Gaza’s health ministry.
As part of a ceasefire deal last November, Hamas released 105 hostages, but the status of the remaining captives remains uncertain.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
