Samuel Werberg, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, revealed that Washington has sent a team to the region to engage in talks with Egypt, Israel, and Qatar to secure the release of hostages and establish a ceasefire. The delegation is headed by CIA Director William Burns, who visited Cairo on Tuesday and met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who reaffirmed Egypt's position against the continuation of military operations in the sector.
Delegations from Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and Israel are expected to meet in Doha on Wednesday to resume talks on a ceasefire and a hostage deal in Gaza, with Burns and his Egyptian counterpart Abbas Kamel in attendance.
In a special interview with "Sky News Arabia," the U.S. State Department spokesperson outlined Washington's position on the ongoing negotiations, stating, "We are committed to ending the war in Gaza and alleviating the humanitarian suffering of civilians there, and we are optimistic about the progress made, but this process will take time."
He mentioned that additional steps and unresolved issues were discussed between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Biden last week to facilitate the completion of a deal regarding Hamas's response to ceasefire proposals. "We have not yet received an official response from the movement indicating a relaxation of its conditions, but we continue to pressure it through our partners in the region to move this agreement forward."
He emphasized that "the United States is actively working with its partners, including Egypt and Qatar, to ensure an immediate ceasefire and the return of all hostages to their families. We support mediation efforts and hope that they will lead to a reduction in violence and stability in the region."
He added, "It is important to remember that success in negotiations requires concessions from all parties and a serious commitment to the diplomatic process; however, we cannot predict the outcomes of the current negotiations, but we are committed to supporting peace and stability efforts in the region."
Egypt and Qatar are leading mediation efforts in the ongoing war, which has lasted for nine months between Israel and Hamas, hoping to end the fighting and secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
