Negotiations on the Israeli hostage deal are very close to the finish line, US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer suggested Sunday.
“A lot of the areas of difference that existed before have been narrowed,” Finer told CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
“We believe we are closer to reaching a final agreement, but on an issue as sensitive as this and as challenging as this, the mantra that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed is true,” he said.
Prospects for success also gained strength after Qatar’s prime minister indicated Sunday that only minor logistical hurdles remained in the way.
But Finer warned, “We don’t have good information about the condition and status of the hostages.”
He also said it was unclear how many US hostages were being held by the Palestinian terror group Hamas, which kidnapped dozens of people during its brutal October 7 raid on Israel.
US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer insisted Sunday that the hostage deal may be very close, though not entirely complete, in his opinion.AP The devastated parents of Israeli army Cpl. Noa Marciano attends his funeral at the Modi’in Military Cemetery on Nov. 17.Getty Images
“It is clear that the United States government does not speak directly to Hamas. Hamas has indicated that there are a large number of hostages they are holding who are still alive. They’re the hostages we’re negotiating,” Finer told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Last week, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan revealed that at least nine American citizens and one legal US permanent resident were missing from Israel after the Hamas raid.
Hamas is generally believed to have kidnapped around 240 hostages since the bloody surprise attack, according to estimates from Israeli officials.
Qatari, Egyptian and American officials are believed to be involved in the negotiation process.
A poster was placed in solidarity with the kidnapped Israelis on the wall of a building on Broadway in the Noho section of New York City, only to be torn down.Christopher Sadowski
On Saturday, the Washington Post reported that a tentative deal had been negotiated for the release of around 50 women and children in exchange for a five-day pause in Israeli attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the White House have denied that.
Finer declined to specifically reveal any timeline for a possible cessation of hostilities but appeared to suggest that scenario was being considered.
“I think both are necessary to actually be able to implement the agreement because implementing the agreement will involve the transfer of hostages on a very dangerous battlefield in Gaza,” he said on NBC.
“It will allow us to get more humanitarian aid to Gaza. That’s the priority in any case,” Finer said.
Finer emphasized that freeing the hostages is a “very high priority for everyone” on President Biden’s team.
“We feel that this should be done as soon as possible, and we are putting pressure on diplomacy to try to resolve this,” Finer added to CBS.
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu hugs his loyal ally, President Biden.REUTERS
At least 1,200 Israelis have been killed in Hamas attacks on Israel, according to revised figures from the government. Some 11,500 Palestinians have been killed during Israeli counterattacks in Gaza since then, according to estimates by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health, whose credibility is highly questionable.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
