Biden makes last ditch attempt at hostage deal

In the wake of the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, talks over a Gaza deal have resumed quickly but quietly, with both sides of American politics working together to secure an outcome.

Not only would Biden like to finally reach a ceasefire in his final weeks in office, but Trump’s desire to start his second term with both the Lebanon and Gaza conflicts wrapped up and the hostages held by Hamas released, has breathed new life into negotiations that collapsed several months ago.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan headed to the Middle East this week to make what could be the Biden administration’s final push for a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz told his American counterpart Lloyd Austin in a call earlier Wednesday that Israel has identified a real possibility to secure a deal that would release all remaining 100 hostages, including seven who hold American citizenship.

The framework under discussion reflects earlier efforts spearheaded by the Biden administration, Qatar and Egypt, in which a first “humanitarian” phase would see the remaining female, elderly and wounded hostages released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

While Biden is guiding the efforts once more, multiple sources have confirmed there has been close coordination with the incoming Trump administration. Key members of Trump’s national security team – and the president-elect himself – have also engaged with the Israeli government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

It follows Trump’s threat that there will be “hell to pay” if the hostages are not released by the time he enters office on January 20.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Reuters that the president-elect’s comment was "a powerful reflection" that "Americans are determined to get the hostages back".

“I think that’s a strong position across parties held by the United States, and we’re going to pursue every avenue we can in the time that we have left to try to get the hostages back and to get a ceasefire,” Blinken said.

The optimism is also being felt by Israel, with reports that Hamas has asked for lists of all hostages still held by militant groups in the Palestinian enclave.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said indirect negotiations were underway about the return of about 100 hostages and that, while it was still too early to be sure, prospects had improved. "We can be more optimistic than before but we are not there yet. I hope we will be there," Saar told a press conference in Jerusalem.

Several waves of negotiations over the past year have failed to reach a sequel to an agreement in late November 2023, which saw 105 hostages released in a weeklong truce. Israel believes that 96 of the 251 hostages kidnapped on October 7 are still in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the IDF. Over the past 14 months, IDF troops have rescued eight hostages and recovered the bodies of 38.

Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the Gaza-based terror group is “more isolated than ever” after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

“It hoped for a unifying of the fronts. Instead, it got a collapse of the fronts. It expected help from Hezbollah — we took that away. It expected help from Iran — we took that as well. It expected help from the Assad regime – well, that’s not going to happen now,” he said.

However, an official said Hamas “still hasn’t given an answer on if it is willing to engage in negotiations”.

For months, Hamas has insisted that it would not agree to another deal unless it includes a permanent end to the war in Gaza and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Netanyahu reiterated at a press conference on Monday that he wasn’t prepared to accept Hamas's conditions, arguing that they would allow the terror group to reconstitute. Instead, he has pushed for a complete surrender of Hamas, aiming to dismantle its governing capabilities after the IDF successfully destroyed much of Hamas’s military infrastructure to the point where it can no longer carry out another attack like that launched on October 7.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis is deepening in Gaza. The United Nations reported that aid to north Gaza has largely been blocked for the past 66 days, leaving between 65,000 and 75,000 Palestinians without access to food, water, electricity or health care.

Sigrid Kaag, senior UN humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, said civilians trying to survive in Gaza face an “utterly devastating situation”.

Kaag said she and other UN officials have repeatedly asked Israel for access for convoys to north Gaza and elsewhere, to allow in commercial goods, to reopen the Rafah crossing from Egypt in the south, and to approve dual-use items.

Israel’s UN Mission said it had no comment on Kaag’s remarks.

READ MORE

Biden administration races to secure a ceasefire in Gaza with Trump’s backing (CNN)

Israel 'more optimistic' on prospects of Gaza hostage deal (Reuters)

Security chiefs discuss hostage deal in Cairo as Israel sees growing chances (Times of Israel)

Sullivan heads to Israel for Biden administration’s likely final hostage deal push (Times of Israel)

Humanitarian aid to northern Gaza mostly blocked for the last 2 months, UN says (AP)

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