Trump's team announces timeline for new Israel-Hamas agreement
Hamas and Israel are close to reaching a new ceasefire agreement (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
A new ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, under which Israel will release all hostages held by Hamas, may be reached within the next few weeks. The first round of negotiations between the parties was productive, states Adam Boehler, the US President’s envoy for hostages.
He made this statement after holding rare direct negotiations with the Palestinian militant group.
"I think something could come together within weeks. I will say that I believe there is enough there to make a deal between what Hamas wants and what they’ve accepted and what Israel wants and it’s accepted," Beyler said on Sunday during an appearance on CNN.
According to him, such an agreement could allow Israel to repatriate all 59 hostages remaining in the Gaza Strip, not just Americans, referring to several US citizens with dual nationality.
Last week, the White House confirmed that Beyler had direct contact with Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the US and other Western countries.
"I actually think they were very productive talks. They identified some opportunity to come together," said Trump's envoy on Sunday during an appearance on Fox News.
According to Beyler, Israel expressed some concerns about the US-Hamas contacts. However, he downplayed these worries, saying, "There’s no question in my mind that our greatest ally is Israel."
New peace agreement between Israel and Hamas
On March 2, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which had been brokered in mid-January by Qatar and Egypt, ended, and both sides found themselves on the brink of resuming the 17-month-long conflict that has shaken the region.
Efforts to secure a permanent cessation of hostilities were met with Israel’s demand, supported by the US, to put an end to the rule of the Palestinian group and its arsenal in the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, March 10, Israel plans to send ambassadors to Doha (Qatar) for potential new negotiations.
On Sunday, Israel halted the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip as a pressure tactic on Hamas to release the hostages.
Recently, US President Donald Trump called on Hamas to release the remaining prisoners. If they refused, the White House leader threatened to eliminate them.
Earlier, Israel approved the US plan to extend the ceasefire with Hamas. However, Jerusalem has not ruled out the resumption of war if the Palestinian group refuses to comply.
