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7 months ago
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The U.S. is taking a new round of hostage negotiations 'very seriously' after CIA Director Bill Burns visited Cairo and negotiators presented their latest offer to Hamas leaders.
'A proposal has been presented to Hamas and we’re waiting on a response from Hamas,' White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on a call Monday.
The proposal followed a weekend of shuttle diplomacy, with negotiators expected some time to transmit the offer to Hamas amid Israel's war on Gaza.
'We’re taking this very, very seriously and we really want to come to closure on a hostage deal as soon as possible,' said Kirby.
Palestinians walk through the destruction in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, April 8, 2024. Negotiators met this past weekend in Cairo over a plan for the release of hostages in exchange for another temporary cease fire
'The administration is doing everything possible to broker a deal that secures the release of all the hostages and leads to an immediate ceasefire, and there's simply no higher priority,' he said.
He declined to get into specifics of the offer, which comes amid continued pressure by the U.S. for another temporary cease fire in exchange for the return of more hostages sezied by Hamas fighters after the October 7 attack on Israel.
Axios reported that the latest offer would secure the release of 40 hostages in exchange for a cease fire lasting 60 days.
The president's national security advisor Jake Sullivan was set to meet with family members of hostages at the White House later Monday.
A hostage deal is difficult but 'doable,' Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Monday following a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.
'It is a difficult deal. This is a deal we might not like, but it's doable, and therefore needs to be made,' he said.
The tense negotiations come after Biden provided some of his most pointed criticism to date of Israel after Israel Defense Forces killed seven aid workers for World Central Kitchen through a missile strike.
Axios reported that the latest offer negotiated by CIA Director William Burns would secure the release of 40 hostages in exchange for a cease fire lasting 60 days
'We’re taking this very, very seriously and we really want to come to closure on a hostage deal as soon as possible,' said White House national security spokesman John Kirby
The Biden administration has been applying pressure to Irael over its planned invasion of Rafah. 'There is a date,' said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
US officials are warning of the toll on civilians if the IDF executes an invasion of Rafah. Here Palestinians walk through the destruction in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, April 8, 2024
The Biden administration is continuing to publicly and privately urge against an Israeli invasion of Rafah amid the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not backed down on his pledge to invade, saying: 'There is a date.'
He wants to insert a ground force as part of the effort to eliminate Hamas in Gaza, while the Biden camp warns about grave risks to 1.4 million civilians.
'It will happen. There is a date,' Netanayahu said in a videotaped statement.
The U.S. continues to push for more humanitarian relief amid widespread hunger in Gaza. Kirby said more than 300 aid trucks got in yesterday, but that the U.S. wants to see 300-350 trucks per day.
The U.S. says there isn't yet a credible plan to protect civilians during an invasion. Israel says it is purchasing 40,000 tents.
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