U.S. Envoy: Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal Close

A potential Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal is near, according to the U.S. envoy to the United Nations. The deal requires Hamas to accept a bridging proposal already agreed upon by Israel. The ongoing conflict has caused significant casualties and displacement, with a broader regional escalation at stake.

A potential Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal is within reach, according to the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, who addressed the Security Council on Thursday. The envoy urged council members to press Hamas to accept a bridging proposal that Israel has already agreed to.

The proposal, put forward by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, follows a plan endorsed by President Joe Biden in May and the Security Council in June. While Israel has accepted the proposal, Hamas's agreement remains pending. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the need for consensus and leverage from council members to finalize the deal.

Disagreements over Israel's military presence in Gaza and Palestinian prisoner releases are obstructing the negotiations. Linda Thomas-Greenfield stressed the importance of avoiding further actions that could derail the progress and highlighted the risk of regional escalation amid continued conflicts and retaliatory threats.

(With inputs from agencies.)