Courtesy of JNS. Photo credit: Chuck Kennedy/U.S. State Department
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the State Department in Washington, D.C. on March 5, 2024
(JNS) — The past 48 hours of “intensive” negotiations between Israel and the Hamas terror organization in Doha, which would lead to a ceasefire and release of hostages, have been “serious and constructive and were conducted in a positive atmosphere,” the United States, Egypt and Qatar stated on Friday.
Washington presented a “bridging proposal” to Israel and Hamas on Friday, with “support” from Cairo and Doha, “that is consistent with the principles laid out by President Biden on May 31, 2024 and Security Council Resolution No. 2735,” the trio stated. “This proposal builds on areas of agreement over the past week, and bridges remaining gaps in the manner that allows for a swift implementation of the deal.”
In the coming days, the parties involved will work on “details of implementation, including arrangements to implement the agreement’s extensive humanitarian provisions, as well as specifics relating to hostages and detainees,” the three countries said. (By “detainees,” the three appeared to refer to jailed Palestinians, including those with blood on their hands, that Israel would release in a deal.)
Senior U.S., Egyptian and Qatari officials “will reconvene in Cairo before the end of next week with the aim to conclude the deal under the terms put forward today,” the three nations stated. “The path is now set for that outcome, saving lives, bringing relief to the people of Gaza and de-escalating regional tensions.”
Also on Friday, Lloyd Austin, the U.S. secretary of defense, spoke with Yoav Gallant, the Israeli minister of defense, per a Pentagon readout of the call.
The two “discussed regional instability and the growing risk of escalation from Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah and Iran-backed terrorist groups across the Middle East,” per the Pentagon. “Secretary Austin informed the minister that the United States continues to monitor attack planning from Iran and its proxies and is well-postured across the region to defend Israel and protect U.S. personnel and facilities.”
