US Announces Truce Deal with Hamas to Secure Release of Abductees
A senior official in the American administration has announced a truce deal with Hamas that aims to secure the release of all women and children currently being held in the Gaza Strip. The deal will also include three American citizens who are among the abductees.
The United States expects that the deal will see all the children and women over 50 released, and that during the five days of truce, Hamas will provide the names and details of other children and women in question, releasing them in exchange for extended periods of truce.
The deal has been supported by Religious Zionism, with former MK Moshe Feiglin expressing his support for the agreement. On the American side, President Biden has been personally involved in the negotiations, with Mossad head Dedi Barnea and CIA chief William Burns representing Israel and the United States, respectively.
In addition to securing the release of the abductees, the truce deal also aims to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, providing certainty to humanitarian organizations operating in the region.
The administration emphasized that the deal is specifically focused on the release of women and children, but hopes that it will also lead to a truce on the northern border. The United States is committed to ensuring a long-term solution to the crisis, with President Biden advocating for a Palestinian state as a means to secure peace in the region.
After intense negotiations involving Israel, Qatar, and the United States, a 5-6 page document detailing the agreement has been drafted. The final terms of the deal were received on November 19 following a conversation between consultant Brett McGurk and the head of Egyptian intelligence.
The United States hopes that the truce deal will not only secure the release of abductees but also pave the way for broader transactions that can lead to lasting peace and stability in the region.