Following two days of 'serious and constructive' talks in Qatar, Biden says Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal is ‘closer than ever’

Negotiations are expected to continue next week in Cairo despite Hamas’ refusal to accept latest US proposal to bridge the gaps

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U.S. President Joe Biden said negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire deal in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza seem closer than ever.

On Friday, Biden told reporters at the Oval Office" “I was dealing with the ceasefire effort in the Middle East, and we are closer than we've ever been."

"I don't want to jinx anything. But as my grandfather said – by the grace of God and with a lot of luck, we might have something," he continued. "But we're not there yet. We're much, much closer than we were three days ago."

Biden’s remarks came after two days of “serious and constructive” talks in Doha, according to the mediators from the United States, Egyptian and Qatar.

The three countries announced in a joint statement that the sides “will reconvene in Cairo before the end of next week with the aim to conclude the deal under the terms put forward today.”

During the latest round of talks, Washington presented a new outline that is meant to bridge the remaining gaps between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization.

One of the main sticking points pertains to the IDF’s presence along Gaza’s border with Egypt, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, where the Rafah border crossing is located. This has been the main artery through which Hamas has smuggled in weapons and terror infrastructure over the years. While Israel has reportedly agreed to narrow down its military forces in the area, Hamas continues to insist on the IDF's fullwithdrawal.

“This proposal builds on areas of agreement over the past week, and bridges remaining gaps in the manner that allows for a swift implementation of the deal,” stated the mediators. “The path is now set for that outcome, saving lives, bringing relief to the people of Gaza and de-escalating regional tensions.”

Against the sense of optimism, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Friday that the Biden administration is trying to create a “false positive atmosphere” in order to “buy more time.” He turned down the American proposal and accused Washington of having “no intention of ending the war.”

A senior U.S. official who spoke to reporters from Doha downplayed Abu Zuhri’s remarks.

“I know there’s a lot of public statements from Hamas right now. I wouldn’t take anything too seriously,” said the official during a briefing. He added that the Biden administration aims to reach a deal next week.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement: “Israel appreciates the efforts of the United States and the mediators to dissuade Hamas from its refusal to agree to a deal for the release of the hostages.

“Israel's core principles are well known to the mediators and to the United States, and Israel hopes that their pressure will lead Hamas to accept the May 27 principles, in order for the details of the agreement to be implemented,” it read further, referring to the outline that was presented by Biden and was approved by the UN Security Council.

An Israeli delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday to resume negotiations, according to Ynet News. The meeting will be attended by Israel's Mossad Chief David Barnea, Shin Bet security head Ronen Bar and IDF Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Nitzan Alon and Netanyahu’s senior political advisor, Ophir Falk.

The ongoing talks are also being closely monitored by Iran. The New York Times and Washington Post reported on Friday that Tehran is expected to suspend its retaliatory strike against Israel to allow for a Gaza ceasefire deal to materialize.