Outgoing US President Joe Biden has only 20 days left. He will hand over the duties to the newly elected President Donald Trump on January 20. Arab mediators said Biden's efforts to enforce a cease-fire in Gaza and release hostages during his tenure have not been fruitful. Sources told the Wall Street Journal that ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas on a hostage exchange and cease-fire have reached an impasse.
According to the report, due to this impasse, there is virtually no chance of an agreement during the administration of the current US President Joe Biden. Mediators said the two sides were considering the terms of a 60-day ceasefire, according to initial proposals for talks. Under the plan, Hamas would release 30 hostages and Israel would promise to release Palestinian prisoners in return. In addition, the amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza was also significantly increased.
However, according to mediators, both sides have hardened their positions towards the end of the talks. Israel insists it will only accept the release of the living hostages, according to the report. At the same time, they refused to release some of the Palestinian prisoners on the list proposed by Hamas.
Hamas, on the other hand, has reverted to its old claim that it is only interested in moving towards a permanent solution to the war. Hamas claims it wants a political solution to the current conflict — which began on October 7.
The mediators also said that in this situation no further solution is possible through negotiations and the crisis of trust between the two sides has deepened. However, they hope that the situation may change a little after Donald Trump takes office as the President of the United States on January 20. Mediators believe the two sides will then try to get back to the negotiating table.
This impasse has created major obstacles to resolving the Middle East conflict. Efforts to defuse tensions between the two sides through hostage exchanges and ceasefires have been completely thwarted. Analysts say the situation in and around Gaza could deteriorate further if the stalemate continues.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is already serious. Thousands of people have lost their homes and become refugees. The flow of humanitarian aid is insufficient and the lives of ordinary people are in dire straits due to lack of food, water and medicine. Such deadlock over the prospect of a ceasefire has created more uncertainty for them.
The eyes of the world community are now on the situation in the region. Because the role of the United States, Israel, Hamas and Arab mediators is considered crucial in achieving any lasting solution.
Meanwhile, the newly elected US President Donald Trump has again issued a final warning to Hamas to release hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He said he would have to do it before taking over. Earlier, Trump has made strong comments on this issue several times and has clearly stated that he will not compromise on this issue.
At a New Year's Eve event in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, a CNN reporter asked Trump if he had recently spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a possible cease-fire and prisoner releases — talks that appear to be deadlocked.
In response, Trump said, “Let's see what happens.” He then added, 'The way I want to put it is that they (Hamas) would be better off if (they) return the detainees quickly.'
