Gaza: Egypt, Qatar urged to drive hostage deal efforts ahead of Cairo talks
A man sits in a wheelchair as Palestinians inspect the damages at Al Shifa Hospital after Israeli forces withdrew from the hospital and the area around it following a two-week operation, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City April 1, 2024. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
The United States President, Joe Biden, has in preparation for negotiations in Cairo, appealed to Egypt and Qatar to exert pressure on the Palestinian movement, Hamas, to secure a hostage deal with Israel.
This plea is contained in a letter Biden wrote to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, while also deploying CIA Director, Bill Burns, to Cairo for hostage release and Ceasefire discussions over the weekend.
In his letters, Biden stressed the importance of securing commitments from Hamas, following his recent call to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, urging him to intensify efforts towards a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
During his conversation with Netanyahu, Biden reiterated the urgency of achieving a swift and accountable hostage deal.
The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have been engaged in truce discussions on the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails for weeks now.
In a related development, a US official who spoke anonymously revealed that Biden’s national security adviser will be meeting with family members of some of the estimated 100 hostages still held in Gaza on Monday.
The official noted that negotiating a pause in the Israel-Hamas conflict to facilitate the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners is critical for implementing a temporary ceasefire and improving the flow of humanitarian aid into the region.
The conflict between Hamas and Israel has resulted in casualties, with about 1,170 Israelis and foreigners, mostly civilians, and over 33,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children, according to the health ministry.
