The Biden administration is preparing a final "take it or leave it" ceasefire proposal for Israel and Hamas, to be presented in the coming weeks, according to senior U.S. officials. This move comes as the conflict in Gaza continues and negotiations have reached a critical juncture.
The proposal, which would include a hostage release agreement and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners, represents what U.S. officials describe as a last-ditch effort to broker a deal. "You can't keep negotiating this forever. This process has to end one way or another at some point," a senior administration official told The Washington Post, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters.
The push for an agreement gained new urgency on Sunday after the Israel Defense Forces recovered the bodies of six hostages, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American citizen. Israeli officials reported that the hostages had been killed by Hamas shortly before the recovery operation.
U.S. officials are intensifying their efforts in the wake of this development. "American officials are going to 'burn' the phones over the next 48 hours to see if a deal can still be reached," another senior U.S. official said.
The Biden administration has been advocating for a ceasefire for months, with CIA Director William Burns, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk making multiple trips to the region to work with Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
However, the negotiations face significant obstacles. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel opposes a "permanent" ceasefire, arguing it would allow Hamas to regroup and potentially launch future attacks. Netanyahu has expressed willingness to consider a temporary ceasefire to secure the release of the remaining hostages, estimated to be around 100.
A key point of contention is Hamas's demand that Israel withdraw from the Philadelphia Corridor, a strip along Gaza's border with Egypt that Israel sees as crucial for preventing weapons smuggling.
Netanyahu and most of Israel's security cabinet maintain that continued military pressure on Hamas is the most effective strategy for securing the hostages' release. Following the recovery of the six bodies, Netanyahu stated, "Those who murder hostages don't want a deal," reaffirming his commitment to pursuing an agreement that ensures both the return of hostages and Israel's security.
Dennis Ross, a former U.S. envoy to the Middle East, offered insight into the thinking of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. "Meanwhile, [Sinwar] will wait to see if the general strike in Israel will lead to a softening of Prime Minister Netanyahu's terms," Ross told The Washington Post, suggesting that internal pressure in Israel could influence the negotiations.
As the Biden administration prepares its final proposal, the international community is well aware that the outcome of these negotiations could have far-reaching implications for regional stability and the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations.
* Makor Rishon contributed to this article.