The Biden administration believes that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza is “very, very close,” despite a recent impasse in negotiations due to Hamas stalling tactics, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday.
The negotiating teams are working as hard as they can to reach a deal “before we leave office” on Jan. 20, Kirby told reporters.
“It is because of Hamas throwing up obstacles or refusing to move on any of these details that we are still not at a conclusion,” he said. “But we believe, as [National Security Advisor] Jake [Sullivan] has said, we’re very, very close, and so we’re not going to give up.”
Kirby did not elaborate what specifically is stalling the talks, but recent reports have placed blame on Hamas’s refusal to deliver a list of living hostages in Gaza who would be released in the first stage of a ceasefire agreement.
“Hamas has consistently lied,” Ynet quoted a senior Israeli official with knowledge on the topic as saying this week.
“Even last time, Hamas claimed it had no women among the hostages, which was false. The question now is whether to play into their hands. We need a solid foundation to proceed with the deal, to determine whether we are releasing [terrorist] prisoners in exchange for bodies or live hostages. The terms are different, and we won’t start an agreement based on lies,” the official said.
Negotiations have been mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. After a week of intensified talks, Israel’s negotiators returned from Doha on Tuesday.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said, “The Hamas terrorist organization continues to lie, is reneging on understandings that have already been reached, and is continuing to create difficulties in the negotiations. However, Israel will continue its relentless efforts to return all of our hostages.”
Hamas claims to be having difficulties contacting other Palestinian terrorist groups holding the captives.
“Hamas has engaged in talks with the other factions holding the hostages, but due to the situation in Gaza, it is impossible to contact all the organizations. Hamas has confirmed that it will provide a full list of the living hostages once the situation stabilizes and after a ceasefire,” a Hamas official said, as translated by Ynet.
Israel estimates there are 100 hostages in Gaza, 64 of whom are believed to be alive.
