Leaders of US, Egypt and Qatar press for Gaza ceasefire hostage deal

The heads of the U.S., Egypt and Qatar issued a blunt joint statement Thursday calling for Israel and Hamas to meet for August 15 talks to finalize a deal to return hostages and bring about a cease fire in Gaza.

The statement, which follows months of fighting and dragged out talks, states that it is ‘time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal.’ 

It says only the ‘details of implementation’ are left to be concluded after talks that have stretched on for months. The statement comes amid fears of broadening conflicts in the Middle East. ‘There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire, and implement this agreement.’ 

‘There’s really no further time to waste or excuses for any party for further delay,’ said a senior administration official told reporters. ‘We need to get this deal done.’ The official said there was ‘work to be done,’ including the ‘sequencing’ of the exchange for the release of hostages held in Gaza since the brutal Oct. 7 Hamas attack inside Israel. ‘We’re going to need some things from the Israelis. We’re going to need some things from the Hamas side,’ said the official, who said the ‘bulk’ of the deal had been completed.

It comes amid fears Iran could strike Israel in response to the strike that killed a Hamas political leader inside Iran. Still, there is ‘no legitimate basis whatsoever for Iran to launch an attack on Israel,’ said the official. 

Leaders of the United States, Egypt and Qatar on Thursday called on Israel and Hamas to meet for negotiations on Aug. 15 in order to finalize a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. The three countries, which have been trying to mediate a deal, said in a joint statement the talks could take place in either Doha or Cairo. 

‘A framework agreement is now on the table with only the details of implementation left to conclude,’ they said. ‘There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire, and implement this agreement.’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli negotiators would be there. The aim, he said, was ‘to finalize the details and implement the framework agreement.’ There was no immediate comment from Hamas. The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

At least 39,699 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. The letter is signed by Presidnet Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

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