White House doubts new terms for Gaza deal - Axios
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The White House is reviewing its strategy for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. At the same time, doubts are growing about the new proposals, reports Axios.
According to US officials, top aides to US President Joe Biden are now considering whether it makes sense to make a new offer. This is due to the fact that Hamas and Israel are taking tougher positions in the negotiations.
Last week, Biden's top advisers assessed the progress of the negotiations and became skeptical about the chances of reaching an agreement in the near term.
According to officials, Hamas's killing of six hostages, including US citizen Hersh Holberg-Polin, and the group's new demand to release another 100 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences for killing Israelis, caused considerable pessimism in the White House.
There was also disappointment with the statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, speaking at a press conference last week, reiterated his demand that full Israeli military control be maintained along the Philadelphia Corridor on the Egyptian-Gaza border.
Officials said that the White House is facing a difficult dilemma, as they believe that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar does not want to make a deal now. And even if he does, Biden doesn't want to be seen as rewarding Hamas with new concessions after the group killed hostages and made more extreme demands.
The Biden administration is still working with Qatar and Egypt on a more detailed proposal for a deal but has not yet proposed a formula that could resolve the existing differences. According to US officials, the focus now is on whether the Egyptians and Qataris can put pressure on Sinwar to soften his demands.
In turn, Israeli officials said that there has been no significant progress in recent days.
