Administration Biden The US is intensifying its efforts to revive negotiations for the release of hostages held in Gaza, on the eve of a crucial summit in Doha. Recognizing the slim chances of reaching an agreement under the current circumstances, Washington plans to submit a new proposal at the summit, hoping to secure a swift consensus. This information was reported Wednesday by Ynet.
Joe Biden's special adviser for the Middle East, Brett McGurk, was sent to Cairo to address sensitive issues related to the presence of IDF forces on the Gaza-Egypt border, particularly along the axis Philadelphi and the Rafah border post. McGurk will then join the talks in Doha, where he will be accompanied by CIA Director Bill Burns.
At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly denied information reported by the New York Times according to which Israel had hardened its position during recent negotiations. His office clarified that the plan proposed on July 27 does not include new conditions compared to that of May 27, despite requests for modification made by Hamas.
Netanyahu is due to convene the Israeli negotiating team, led by Mossad chief Dadi Barnea, today before they leave for the Doha summit. Sources close to the matter, however, question the leeway that Netanyahu will grant this team to reach an agreement. The Doha summit is seen by the United States as a “last chance” to unblock the negotiations, even if previous summits had already been described in such terms.
