The U.S., Egypt, and Qatar are urging Israel and Hamas to attend a summit next week and finalize cease-fire negotiations instead of escalating regional tensions after Israel killed two Hezbollah commanders and is believed to have killed Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
U.S. president Joe Biden, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani released a joint statement Thursday requesting that the two sides go to either Doha or Cairo to figure out how to implement a cease-fire framework agreed upon in May.
“It is time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal,” the statement reads.
“As mediators, if necessary, we are prepared to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties. We have called on both sides to resume urgent discussion on Thursday, August 15 in Doha or Cairo to close all remaining gaps and commence implementation of the deal without further delay.”
An Israeli official told Axios that Israel was aware of the joint statement beforehand, and the U.S. had recently floated the possibility of a summit.
Iran and Hamas immediately vowed to retaliate against Israel for Haniyeh’s death last week during a visit to Iran for the inauguration of its new president. Haniyeh was living lavishly in Qatar with other leaders of the terrorist group and participating in the cease-fire talks.
“The criminal, terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our territory and has caused our grief, but it has also prepared the ground for a severe punishment,” said Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Biden spoke with El-Sisi and Sheikh Tamim on Tuesday to discuss the cease-fire negotiations and the urgent need to get the agreement done, according to White House readouts. On Monday, Biden talked with Jordanian King Abdullah II about the cease-fire negotiations and de-escalating regional tensions as American officials prepared for Iran to attack Israel.
Before Haniyeh’s death, Israel struck a Hezbollah commander in Beirut, Lebanon, who was thought to be responsible for an attack that killed a dozen children in Israel-controlled Golan Heights. Israel killed another top Hezbollah commander on Monday with a strike in south Lebanon meant to limit Hezbollah’s ability to attack northern Israel. Hezbollah responded Tuesday with drone strikes around Nahariya, a city in northern Israel, wounding 19, including one victim critically.
Earlier this year, Iran attacked Israel with an unprecedented barrage of drones and missiles that Israel was able to defend with support from the U.S. and other allies.