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Gaza Ceasefire Deal in 'Closing Stages', Says US Official

Smoke billows over Rafah in the south of Gaza after an Israeli bombardment during its war against Palestinian militant group Hamas © SAID KHATIB / AFP
Smoke billows over Rafah in the south of Gaza after an Israeli bombardment during its war against Palestinian militant group Hamas © SAID KHATIB / AFP
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Gaza Ceasefire Deal in 'Closing Stages', Says US Official

Smoke billows over Rafah in the south of Gaza after an Israeli bombardment during its war against Palestinian militant group Hamas © SAID KHATIB / AFP
Smoke billows over Rafah in the south of Gaza after an Israeli bombardment during its war against Palestinian militant group Hamas © SAID KHATIB / AFP

Negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal are in their "closing stages," a US official said Wednesday, ahead of talks between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Biden will try to close some "final gaps" in his talks with Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday but key elements including the fate of the hostages remain in Hamas's court, the senior administration official said, AFP reported.

"We believe it's in the closing stages and a deal is closeable," the US official said on condition of anonymity in a call previewing Netanyahu's visit.

There would be a "lot of activity in the coming week" towards reaching a long-sought deal, said the official, adding that an agreement was "not only possible, it's essential and necessary."

The US official played down a fiery speech to Congress by Netanyahu on Wednesday in which he pledged "total victory," saying that the talks with Biden would be more focused on the mechanics of a deal.

A possible truce now hinges on a handful of issues about how a deal would come into effect, with Hamas having eased its demand for a full Israeli pull-out, the official said.

"I don't expect the meeting (with Netanyahu) to be a yes or no, it's a kind of like 'how do we close these final gaps?' And there are some things we need from the Israeli side, no question," the official said.

"But there's also some key things that are only in the hands of Hamas because the hostages are in the hands of Hamas."

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Arab World

Sudanese Forces Welcome US Initiative to Stop War

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP)
 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP)
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Sudanese Forces Welcome US Initiative to Stop War

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP)
 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP)

Sudanese political and civil forces welcomed on Wednesday the new US initiative that invited the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to participate in ceasefire talks next August 14.
The forces considered the move as an extension of the US administration's ongoing efforts to end the war in Sudan, but said its success depends on the pressure that Washington will exert on the warring parties.
RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo said on Wednesday morning that the paramilitary group will participate in the talks.
“I welcome the invitation announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and I declare our participation in the upcoming ceasefire talks on August 14, 2024, in Switzerland,” Hemedti wrote on X.
So far, there has been no official comment from the Sudanese Armed Forces on the invitation.
Hemedti said, “I appreciate the efforts exerted by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland in organizing these crucial talks.”
He added, “We share with the international community the goal of achieving a comprehensive ceasefire across the country, facilitating humanitarian access to all those in need, and developing a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure the implementation of any agreement reached.”
The Foreign Policy magazine quoted earlier five current and former officials familiar with the matter as affirming that the Biden administration is launching a new initiative to end the war in Sudan—one of the world's deadliest conflicts—with fresh peace talks following months of behind-the-scenes negotiations.
The talks will be led by Blinken and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations. They will be co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.
According to Blinken, the talks will not address “broader political issues.” He said they aim “to achieve a nationwide cessation of violence, ensure humanitarian access for all those in need, and establish a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to oversee the implementation of any agreement.”
Sudan's warring parties were in Switzerland between July 10 and 20 for UN-led talks aimed at brokering possible local ceasefires to facilitate aid and protect civilians.
But the talks failed to reach a consensus on the delivery of humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians.
Meanwhile, the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces “Taqaddum” welcomed on Wednesday the US invitation, and expressed hope that the initiative would result in an “urgent cessation of fighting, through serious engagement, and full commitment from all parties.”
Taqaddum spokesperson Bakri Al-Jack told Asharq Al-Awsat that the initiative is part of the mission of US envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, who has initiated talks with regional sides to solve the Sudanese crisis.
Al-Jack affirmed that any initiative that aims to accelerate the cessation of the war should be supported by peace-seekers in Sudan and the region.
He said Perriollo is insistently calling for the involvement of Egypt and the UAE in the talks, given the direct relationship of each side to the warring parties.
“The envoy has directed his efforts to coordinate and integrate the initiatives proposed in the Jeddah Platform, the African Union, and IGAD, and build on the Egyptian and Ethiopian efforts made in the past few days to solve the Sudanese file,” the spokesperson said.