Gaza war: 'Optimistic about prospects of reaching truce deal', says Biden
File photo.
United States President Joe Biden said on Friday (Aug 16) that he was optimistic about the prospects of reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking to reporters in Hagerstown, Maryland,Biden was asked about the status of the ceasefire talks to which he said, "...it’s still in play. I’m optimistic, it’s far from over. Just a couple more issues, I think we’ve got a shot."
Biden pointed out that he was more optimistic (about the deal) thanhe had been in the past few months.
Truce talks paused, negotiators to meet again
Biden's remarks came as truce talks in Doha, Qatar paused on Friday with negotiators to meet again next week. A report by the news agency Reuters said that in a joint statement, the US, Qatar and Egypt said Washington presented a new proposal.
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Also read |Gaza war: US, Qatar and Egypt put forward ‘bridging proposal’, Hamas rejects Israel’s conditions
Meanwhile,Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty demanded an immediate ceasefire deal. Foreign MinisterAbdelatty made this remark as he was on a visit to Lebanonamid border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel turning into an all-out war.
Speaking in a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib at the end of his visit, Abdelatty said Egypt will continue its effort to reach a ceasefire deal.
"A deal that leads to an immediate ceasefire, an end to the killing of civilians and an exchange of prisoners and hostages is the key to the beginning of the solution in this region, the beginning of a de-escalation, and the beginning to prevent the region from slipping into the furnace of a comprehensive war," he said.
Death toll in Gaza Strip over 40,000
The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October7, 2023,when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
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Israel's subsequent assault on the enclave has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, and has displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million.
Apart from Hamas,Hezbollah has also vowed to retaliate against Israel for the killing of a top commander, as has Iran,for the killing in Tehran of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
(With inputs from agencies)