US officials doubt Gaza ceasefire deal will happen before Biden’s term ends
Key US officials reportedly believe that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is unlikely to materialize before President Joe Biden leaves office in January, casting doubt on the prospects of a diplomatic resolution.
Key US officials reportedly believe that Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is unlikely to materialize before President Joe Biden leaves office in January, casting doubt on the prospects of a diplomatic resolution.
According to the Wall Street Journal,high-level officials within the White House, State Department, and Pentagon have expressed skepticism about reaching a deal before Biden’s term concludes.
“No deal is imminent. I’m not sure it ever gets done,” one US official reportedly told the newspaper, highlighting the challenges in securing an agreement. The major obstacles include disagreements over the number of Palestinian prisoners Israel must release in exchange for hostages held by Hamas and escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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Despite these hurdles, US officials have publicly emphasized their ongoing efforts. “I can tell you that we do not believe that deal is falling apart,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on Thursday, underscoring Washington’s continued push for a resolution.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously suggested that 90 percent of a ceasefire deal had been agreed upon, but the remaining obstacles appear significant. The Biden administration, working closely with mediators Qatar and Egypt, has pursued a ceasefire for months, yet progress has been slow.
The conflict, which erupted nearly a year ago after Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, continues to claim lives on both sides. More than 1,100 Israelis were killed and over 200 taken captive in the initial assault, while Israel’s retaliatory strikes have led to the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians, sparking humanitarian crises and displacing millions in Gaza.
With the US presidential election on the horizon and Vice President Kamala Harris facing Donald Trump, the question of whether a ceasefire can be reached remains uncertain.
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