US, Egypt, and Qatar urge Israel and Hamas to 'finalize the agreement' for Gaza ceasefire

The United States, Egypt and Qatar released a joint statement on Saturday evening calling on Israel and Hamas to agree to the three-stage plan to end the Gaza War released by U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday evening. 

Despite Biden claiming that “Israel has now offered a new roadmap to an enduring ceasefire - and the release of all hostages,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to dampen enthusiasm for the announcement. 

In a rare statement during the Sabbath, Netanyahu stated, “Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas's military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.” 

On Saturday evening, the three countries which have been mediating the hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas, called on both parties to accept the proposal put forward by Biden. 

The U.S. State Department released a statement on Saturday, calling on the two sides to “finalize the agreement.” 

“As mediators in the ongoing discussions to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar jointly call on both Hamas and Israel to finalize the agreement embodying the principles outlined by President Biden on May 31, 2024,” the statement read.

“These principles brought the demands of all parties together in a deal that serves multiple interests and will bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. This deal offers a roadmap for a permanent ceasefire and ending the crisis.” 

The Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a copy of the statement to 𝕏. 

Joint Statement between the State of Qatar, Egypt and the United States #MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/NBdcjIq9pg

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) June 1, 2024

The joint statement comes as Egypt prepares to host a new round of Egyptian-US-Israeli talks on Sunday to discuss the reopening of the Rafah border crossing, a high-level Egyptian source told Al-Qahera News TV channel on Saturday. 

While the proposal has been presented as new plan, a source familiar with the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post it is “essentially the framework of an Israeli proposal from weeks ago.” Hamas already rejected that proposal over its demand for a permanent ceasefire before releasing the hostages. 

Biden presented his three-stage plan as both a hostage deal and a plan for "the day after" the war in Gaza. He said this proposal presents a counter option to “an indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion of total victory,” which Biden said would “only bog down Israel and Gaza, draining the economic, military and human resources, furthering Israel's isolation in the world.” 

Israeli opponents have noted the plan appears to leave Hamas in power, which Netanyahu has affirmed is “a nonstarter.”