Details of US ceasefire proposal for Gaza war leaked, though sources warn it is 'on the brink of collapsing'
Negotiators will meet in Egypt to try to salvage the deal. Despite the difficulties, Washington is optimistic.
Israeli protesters demand release of hostages (illustrative image).
Gaza ceasefire talks are "on the brink of collapsing," reported Politico, while the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat revealed new details about the U.S. proposal for a truce in the region.
According to Politico, which cited Israeli and U.S. sources, negotiators will meet in Cairo, Egypt, for talks on a final proposal to reach an agreement.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that Israel had accepted the Biden administration's proposal, but Hamas publicly rejected it.
As noted by Politico, officials said the U.S. proposal is the best one yet, but they are concerned because Hamas's rejections could collapse negotiations to reach a truce and bring the hostages back to Israel.
"We don’t know if [Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya] Sinwar wants this deal," one of the officials said. "But if we don’t get the deal there’s a chance that Iran attacks and this escalates into a full blown confrontation," he added.
Despite the difficulties, Politico indicated that U.S. officials are optimistic that a deal can still be reached.
New details on the US proposal
Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat published new details about Blinken's proposal to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The Arab media outlet noted that according to the proposal, Israel will be able to send 150 released terrorists into exile and veto the release of 65 others during the first stage of the agreement.
Asharq Al-Awsat stressed that the proposal will allow Israel to have a military presence in the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border, although without mentioning the extent to which Israeli forces will be allowed to operate.
The newspaper added that the offer will allow the Israelis to maintain control in the Netzarim corridor, a strip separating northern and southern Gaza, to inspect Gazans returning to the north.
In addition, Israel will also be granted similar supervision over the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border.
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