The aspiration of President Joe Biden for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict is increasingly becoming elusive, as the militant group Hamas presents fresh demands, according to the Washington Post.
The protracted endeavor to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, coupled with the release of American hostages in Gaza, has encountered numerous hurdles, primarily due to disagreements over the terms of the deal. The recent introduction of new conditions by Hamas has disrupted the Biden administration's strategies, raising concerns among officials about the feasibility of a ceasefire.
As reported by the Washington Post, the administration, which has already proposed or supported several ceasefire initiatives, had been contemplating a new "take it or leave it" proposal. This proposal was intended to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas' expectations for a deal. However, the administration has indefinitely postponed the presentation of this proposal following Hamas' recent demand for the inclusion of the release of a larger number of Palestinian prisoners than previously agreed upon.
Former NATO ambassador Ivo Daalder expressed his skepticism about the administration's efforts to secure a deal. "Just because there isn't an alternative doesn't mean this strategy is working," Daalder told the Post. "The amount of talent we've deployed to get where we are, which is nowhere, is really remarkable, and at some point you need to decide it doesn't work."
The Washington Post also reports that some of Biden's advisers are advocating for increased pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expedite a deal. The possibility of publicly challenging Netanyahu to secure a deal is currently under discussion within the White House. However, it is unlikely that such a step would be taken, according to several individuals familiar with the discussions.
Netanyahu finds himself in a challenging position, having to choose between ending the conflict due to humanitarian concerns or continuing it to further incapacitate Hamas. Last week, hundreds of thousands of Israelis reportedly protested against Netanyahu for his refusal to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire. This followed revelations that six hostages, including one American, were recently killed by Hamas in Gaza.
The situation is further complicated by Hamas' obstinacy in negotiations and its seemingly unreasonable demands for a deal, which have frequently derailed potential paths to a ceasefire. The latest demand from Hamas follows a series of rejections the terrorist group has made of various proposals.
Behind the scenes, U.S. officials are reportedly growing concerned that negotiating with Hamas may be an impossible task, and that the group may never agree to a ceasefire deal, given its actions in killing six of the hostages. The White House National Security Council has yet to respond to requests for comment.
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