Hopes are high for a deal between Israel and Hamas that would include a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Talks are ongoing with both the Biden and Trump administrations working towards a resolution before Trump's inauguration.
With less than two weeks before President Joe Biden leaves office, his aides are once again expressing hope that Israel and Hamas could be close to reaching a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by the terrorist group. The optimism comes as the Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump ’s team are working together to achieve a deal before Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is flying to Doha, Qatar, this week, where the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, has been participating in this latest round of talks since last weekend. Trump, who said Tuesday that he doesn’t want to “hurt negotiations,” also reiterated his threat of unspecified havoc befalling the Middle East if the hostages aren’t released by the inauguration. “If they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East, and it will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence. Witkoff told reporters at Trump's Florida resort that he’s traveling to “hopefully finish it up” and outlined some of the deal. He said that “aspirationally,” the Trump team hoped to get a 42-day ceasefire 'enacted sometime before the inaugural.” A senior Biden administration official told NBC News on Tuesday that it’ll know within the next 24 to 48 hours if a deal was likely, but that there is a decent chance of reaching one. The deal includes 34 hostages, though it’s unclear how many are still be alive, according to a separate senior administration official. A U.S. official says they are optimistic a deal is close but they've been optimistic in the past — when the deals have fallen apart. And White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Friday — ahead of travel to the region — that the new deal “is both urgent and possible”
GAZA HAMAS CEASEFIRE HOSTAGES ISRAEL TRUMP BIDEN
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