Israel agreed to resume ceasefire talks in Gaza on August 15 at the request of US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said, as regional tensions soar over a possible war between Iran and Israel.
Gaza’s civil defense agency, controlled by Hamas, said Israeli bombardment killed more than 18 people in attacks on two schools on Thursday, while Iran accused Israel of seeking to spread war in the Middle East.
After a week-long hiatus in November, US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators tried to secure a second truce in the 10-month war between Hamas and Israel.
“The framework agreement is now on the table, only the implementation details remain to be concluded, and the mediators are “ready to present a final bridging proposal” to resolve the remaining issues,” the mediators said in a statement.
Netanyahu’s office later announced that Israel would send a negotiating team on August 15 “to an agreed location to finalize the details of the implementation of the agreement,” reports AFP.
In an attempt to calm regional tensions in the Middle East, US President Joe Biden spoke separately with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt, the White House said.
“President Biden spoke today with Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar to address their efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, including the current ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages,” the statement said.
Biden thanked Al-Thani for his leadership in facilitating the talks, which the White House said had now reached the final stage.
The leaders agreed “on the urgency of ending the process as soon as possible”, it added.
In a separate phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the leaders also addressed efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, including an immediate ceasefire and a deal to release hostages.
Thanking his Egyptian counterpart for helping facilitate the talks, the White House said the leaders agreed to remain in close coordination in the coming days.
Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have further escalated since July 30, when Tel Aviv killed senior military commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike in Beirut.
These discussions focused on efforts to de-escalate the situation, particularly through an immediate ceasefire and a deal for the release of hostages. Biden expressed gratitude for the leadership roles both Egypt and Qatar have played in facilitating these negotiations, which are reportedly nearing a final stage.
The calls came against the backdrop of increasing violence, including significant cross-border hostilities involving Hezbollah and Israel, and a deadly Israeli offensive in Gaza. The leaders agreed on the urgency of concluding the peace processes swiftly and committed to maintaining close coordination in the coming days.
Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in the Iranian capital Tehran a day later, with Iran and Hamas accusing Israel of carrying out the killing, for which Tel Aviv has yet to confirm or deny responsibility.
Hezbollah vowed to retaliate for the killing of Shukra as cross-border fire continued in the deadliest clashes since the two sides waged a full-scale war in 2006.
The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli assault on Gaza that has killed nearly 40,000 people since October last year, AA writes.
