Biden asks Egypt, Qatar to press Hamas to agree to hostage deal
Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2024 6:26 am
Biden asks Egypt, Qatar to press Hamas to agree to hostage deal
Read more here:
https://www.axios.com/2024/04/05/biden- ... stage-deal
President Biden on Friday sent letters to the President of Egypt and the Emir of Qatar asking them to press Hamas to agree to a hostage deal that will lead to a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, a senior U.S. official said.
Why it matters: CIA director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Cairo this weekend for talks with the head of Israel's Mossad and top Qatari and Egyptian officials in an effort to break the deadlock in negotiations to secure the release of hostages being held in Gaza.
The current proposal being negotiated could lead to a six-week ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 40 hostages — female soldiers and other women, men over the age of 50 and men in critical medical conditions.
In return, Israel would release roughly 700 Palestinian prisoners, including about 100 who are serving life sentences for killing Israelis.
Driving the news: During his call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, Biden raised the upcoming round of talks this weekend in Cairo and asked Netanyahu to send his negotiators with a wider mandate than before in order to get a deal.
"He made clear to Netanyahu that everything must be done to secure the release of hostages, including American citizens, now held by Hamas terrorists for nearly six months," the U.S. official said.
Read more here:
https://www.axios.com/2024/04/05/biden- ... stage-deal
President Biden on Friday sent letters to the President of Egypt and the Emir of Qatar asking them to press Hamas to agree to a hostage deal that will lead to a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, a senior U.S. official said.
Why it matters: CIA director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Cairo this weekend for talks with the head of Israel's Mossad and top Qatari and Egyptian officials in an effort to break the deadlock in negotiations to secure the release of hostages being held in Gaza.
The current proposal being negotiated could lead to a six-week ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 40 hostages — female soldiers and other women, men over the age of 50 and men in critical medical conditions.
In return, Israel would release roughly 700 Palestinian prisoners, including about 100 who are serving life sentences for killing Israelis.
Driving the news: During his call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, Biden raised the upcoming round of talks this weekend in Cairo and asked Netanyahu to send his negotiators with a wider mandate than before in order to get a deal.
"He made clear to Netanyahu that everything must be done to secure the release of hostages, including American citizens, now held by Hamas terrorists for nearly six months," the U.S. official said.