2024-08-24 09:04:35
An agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages “is now on the horizon”, US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council today, Reuters reported.
She called on the 15-member council to put pressure on the Palestinian militant group Hamas to accept the compromise ceasefire proposal.
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said the U.S., Qatar and Egypt last week presented a compromise proposal for a Gaza ceasefire that is in line with the plan drawn up by U.S. President Joe Biden in May and approved by the Security Council in June .
“Israel accepted the compromise proposal. Now Hamas must do the same,” said Thomas-Greenfield. “As members of this Council, we must speak with one voice and we must use our influence to put pressure on Hamas to accept the compromise solution,” she added in her statement to the Security Council.
Disagreements over the presence of Israeli forces in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners are holding back a deal, as Israel has made new demands since Hamas accepted Biden’s offer in May, sources familiar with the talks told Reuters.
“This is a crucial moment for the ceasefire talks and for the region, and so every member of this council must continue to send strong messages to other countries in the region to avoid actions that would take us further away from finalizing the deal,” said Thomas-Greenfield. .
“There is a very real danger of regional escalation,” said the US representative. “So let’s do everything in our power to make this deal a success and release prisoners now,” she urged.