- Israel and Hamas mediators urge agreement
Mediators have been pushing Israel and the Islamist group Hamas with strong words to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. Both sides have been urged to resume talks on August 15 in Doha or Cairo to "close all remaining gaps and begin implementing the agreement without further delay," according to a joint statement signed by Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and US President Joe Biden.
This comes at a critical time as Iran and its allies, including Hamas, have threatened retaliatory strikes against Israel following the killing of two top Hamas leaders and a senior figure in Lebanon's Hezbollah militia. There are concerns that the Gaza conflict could escalate into a wider regional conflagration. The statement calls for "immediate relief" to be provided to the suffering population in Gaza and to the hostages and their families.
Mediating teams have been working tirelessly for many months to forge a framework agreement that is now on the table, with only the details of implementation left to be clarified. "There is no more time to lose and no more excuses for further delays," the statement reads.
It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire, and implement this agreement. If necessary, a final bridging proposal is ready to be put forward to resolve any remaining implementation issues in a way that meets the expectations of all parties, the statement concludes.
The following joint statement from Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and US President Joe Biden urges Israel and Hamas to begin implementing the agreement without delay, aiming to immediately provide relief to the suffering population in Gaza and the hostages' families. The mediating teams have urged an immediate ceasefire and are prepared to propose a final solution to resolve any remaining implementation issues.
