Egypt and Qatar threaten to withdraw from mediation in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations
It seems that Hamas isn’t the only one angry with the way Israel, and in particular its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is dealing with the stalled ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
The Egyptian and Qatari mediators are also fed up with the latter’s approach, and have threatened to end their mediation.
According to recent information, Cairo and Doha have actually informed the US administration that their role in the mediation issue could end at any moment, in light of Netanyahu’s intransigence in his positions and his refusal to submit to the pressures exerted on him from all sides in order to make concessions to complete the prisoner exchange deal and ceasefire with Hamas.
Both Egypt and Qatar refuse to play a mediating role in the Gaza truce file indefinitely in light of the devastating Israeli war on the Strip and its residents, and the absence of any hope even a little of the possibility of moving Netanyahu’s hardened position and accepting the deals offered to him by the US side.
Cairo and Doha informed US officials that the ceasefire negotiations are facing great danger because of Netanyahu, and that their role may officially end if Tel Aviv rejects the new offer that the Biden administration will present to both parties in the coming few days.
If Netanyahu thwarts the new US initiative, and the Egyptian and Qatari mediators decide to withdraw and carry out their threat, the negotiations will face a major dilemma, and will be a lifeline for Netanyahu to prolong the war and military escalation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, while Hamas will try to seek or accept the mediation offers that have been on its table for many months, including the UAE, Russia and the Sultanate of Oman.
Two US officials, two Egyptian security sources and an informed official told Reuters that the White House is working hard to present a new proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of prisoners held by Hamas in the coming days.
The two US officials said the new proposal aims to resolve key points of contention that have led to a months-long stalemate in talks brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt seeking a truce in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
A senior official in US President Joe Biden’s administration told reporters separately on Wednesday that much of the agreement had been agreed upon, however, negotiators were still trying to resolve two major obstacles.
The US administration official, who declined to be identified, explained that the two obstacles are Israel’s demands to keep forces in the Philadelphi Corridor, a buffer zone in southern Gaza on the border with Egypt, and the identity of the individuals who will be included in a prisoner exchange deal held by Hamas for Palestinians held by Israel.
Hamas political office member, Izzat al Rashq said, “the movement would deal with any new proposal that responded to the demands of the resistance and the demands of our people”.
Hamas said in a statement that there was no need for new proposals and accused Netanyahu of seeking to thwart reaching an agreement.
In light of this development, who is the mediator capable of turning the Gaza truce negotiations around and forcing Netanyahu to accept the initiatives?
Is the goal of mediation to end the war or prolong its life?
