- Negotiators met in Cairo over a proposal for Hamas to release hostages for a temporary ceasefire
- He said a ceasefire of about six weeks would “do a lot” to ease the burden on Palestinians
- The talks come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says “there is a date” for the invasion of Rafah
The US is taking a new round of hostage negotiations ‘very seriously’ after CIA Director Bill Burns visited Cairo and negotiators presented their latest offer to Hamas leaders.
“A proposal has been presented to Hamas and we are awaiting a response from Hamas,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on a call Monday.
The proposal followed a weekend of shuttle diplomacy, with negotiators expecting some time to convey the offer to Hamas amid Israel’s war on Gaza.
“We are taking this very, very seriously and we really want to reach a hostage agreement as quickly as possible,” Kirby said.
Palestinians walk through the destruction in the aftermath of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, April 8, 2024. Negotiators met in Cairo last weekend to discuss a plan for the release of hostages in exchange for more a temporary ceasefire
“The government is doing everything possible to reach a deal that secures the release of all hostages and leads to an immediate ceasefire, and there is simply no higher priority,” he said.
He declined to discuss details of the offer, which comes amid continued U.S. pressure for a new temporary ceasefire in exchange for the return of more hostages seized by Hamas fighters after the attack on October 7 on Israel.
Axios reported that the latest offer would secure the release of 40 hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire.
The president’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, was scheduled to meet relatives of hostages at the White House later Monday.
A hostage deal is difficult but “doable,” Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Monday after meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.
‘It’s a tough deal. “This is a deal that we may not like, but it is feasible and therefore should be done,” he said.
The tense negotiations come after Biden issued some of his sharpest criticism yet of Israel after the Israeli military killed seven aid workers for World Central Kitchen in a rocket attack.
Axios reported that the latest offer negotiated by CIA Director William Burns would secure the release of 40 hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire.
“We are taking this very, very seriously and we really want to reach a hostage agreement as quickly as possible,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said.
The Biden administration is putting pressure on Israel over the planned invasion of Rafah. “There is a date,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
US officials warn of the toll on civilians if the IDF carries out an invasion of Rafah. Here, Palestinians walk through the destruction in the aftermath of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, April 8, 2024
The Biden administration continues to publicly and privately push for an Israeli invasion of Rafah, amid the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not gone back on his promise to invade, saying: “There is a date.”
He wants to deploy a ground force as part of the effort to eliminate Hamas in Gaza, while the Biden camp warns of serious risks for 1.4 million civilians.
‘It will happen. There is a date,” Netanyahu said in a videotaped statement.
The US continues to push for more humanitarian aid amid widespread hunger in Gaza. Kirby said more than 300 relief trucks came in yesterday, but the U.S. wants to see 300 to 350 trucks per day.
The US says there is no credible plan yet to protect civilians during an invasion. Israel says it is buying 40,000 tents.